Church Life
-
Some Thoughts on “Restudying the Issue”
Every so often, word will spread that a congregation has made a massive change. Maybe the congregation has decided to appoint female elders or deacons. Maybe the congregation has decided to allow mechanical instruments of music in worship. These and other similar issues are often made with a big statement by the elders (or by the preacher) along with words such as “after restudying the issue…”. Very often, the leaders will speak of how they have been studying this for some time, usually about a year. Immediately, many push back on that phrase, “restudying the issue.” The reason, it seems to me, is that it is almost exclusively used at…
-
The Parable of the FedEx Dropbox
A few weeks ago I needed to return something to a company and was advised to do so at a FedEx dropbox. The instructions I was given informed me about the location of the specific dropbox which was to be used. According to those instructions, the dropbox was in the parking lot of a small shopping center with which both Donna and I are very familiar. It is not at all unusual for one of us to “make a run” to a Kroger store which is in that shopping center. With all of that being true, neither Donna nor I could remember ever seeing a FedEx dropbox anywhere in that…
-
A Proverb and the Bible School Program
Leah and I both have a passion for a church’s Bible school program. And our passion for it works out well, because she has such a heart for mostly children’s classes, while I greatly love thinking about teens and adults. We talk often about Bible classes and we try to think about ways to do better–both with our own teaching and in the entire program of work. As we look around congregations (both where we are and other congregations we visit), we see some similar struggles. But there is often one thing that is missing that would help the program improve, and (surprise, surprise) it comes right from the Bible.…
-
Which Side of the Door?
Most of us are probably familiar with a painting and/or some other representation that depicts Jesus standing at a door and knocking. Each of these are intended to be a visual representation of these words found in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” There is probably no way to estimate the number of applications that have been made of this text or of the painting. Most of them have to do with the desire of Jesus to have a relationship with us (and…
-
A Song of Hope and Peace
We live in a time when many people don’t seem to have hope in this world. They are faced with illnesses, financial difficulties, housing difficulties, family issues, marital problems, age-related issues, and the list could go on and on. Our world seems broken with all of the national and international problems we see on the news. It seems as though many have turned their back on God, just like those Jews of old who did not obey God, but bowed down to idols. There are times when I see and feel the pressures of this life, and even though I am a firm believer in God and His plan for my life,…
-
The Connection Matters
I was sitting in a lecture not long ago behind a friend of mine. The speaker was doing a good job presenting his lesson, when, at one point, he made a remark that was more application than it was information. He was simply trying to speak to how what he was talking about had impacted his own life in a very real way. As he did that, he further gave a practical remark of how this could help us all live out the principle he was discussing. It was at this point that my friend sitting in front of me, quietly–but enough where I could hear it–uttered a simple “amen.”…
-
Frederick Douglass Was Not a Waiter, But…
A few months ago, an entirely new and different world was opened up to me. I learned from one of our neighbors that I could “borrow” audiobooks from our local library and listen to them for free. Since then, I’ve “read” about twenty-five books. I have found this practice to be much more informative and interesting than what I did previously while I was driving, doing odd jobs around the house, etc. The time spent on listening to political commentators with whom I already basically agreed or music I’ve known for a half century or so now occupies very, very little of my time. I am particularly drawn to books…
-
Love On
This post is meant to be extremely brief but I hope it makes you think. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. A day of love and appreciation. Why can’t today be yet another day where we show love and appreciation … especially for Christians? “Let brotherly love continue.” Hebrews 13:1 Subscribe Via Email for Free AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
-
When the Neighbor Knew Something Was Wrong
I am writing these words on the day I was asked to participate in the funeral of a very special Christian lady. Some of what I am about to type could probably be written after any number of funerals. I am afraid, though, that not all of it could. Funeral services have a way of reminding us about things that are vitally important. A story I heard from a family member is, at least to me, a great example of this. Many of us have had the heartbreaking experience of trying to help a loved one as the aging process takes a terrible toll on that loved one. At some…
-
A Note of Thanksgiving
Having just celebrated my 75th birthday–and, no, I don’t mind telling people how old I am–I am overwhelmed by all of the blessings God has given me in this life. First on my list would be my relationship with Him and a mother who raised me to always put Him first. Even in difficult circumstances, I saw her trust in God and her faith planted that seed in me that helped my own faith grow. I am so thankful. It is difficult for me to understand how anyone can make it in this life without being able to lean on God and His Word for support. Second would be the…
