Church Life
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Praise for Young People
If you were asked what your opinion of young people is today, what would come to your mind first? Many people closer to my age might describe them in terms like irresponsible, disrespectful, ungrateful, spoiled, immature, rebellious, and the list could go on and on. Upon what do most people usually base these negative opinions? Sometimes it is what they have seen and heard in a short encounter with them. You might see a group at the mall on a Friday night and, spotting them from a distance, judge them based upon what they are wearing and what they are saying. To be honest, it is often difficult to not…
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A Proverb We Saw in Real Time on Saturday
As I have said before, I very rarely write articles about recent things. I typically have articles–at least in idea or rough draft form–a few weeks in advance. However, this article is based on the recent event of an attempted assassination of former President and current Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump. And, by the way, I would write the same article if something tragically similar had happened to Joseph R. Biden or Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. We live in a time of many words. I am grateful to live in a time where I can read anything from longer books to Instagram captions, basically whenever I want. It is wonderful…
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Often Overlooked – Usually Unappreciated – Absolutely Indispensable
They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They are found in every geographic area on the globe. They reside in sparsely populated rural areas and in the most densely populated cities. They speak a variety of languages, have different ideas and attitudes about a lot of things. They may or may not agree on every (or any) subject. While they may be found at every level of the “economic ladder,” their numbers seem to increase on the lower levels. You will rarely, if ever, read their names in headlines. If they are mentioned at all in news reports or other sources of information, they may not even…
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Burger King and the Church Youth Group
It really is remarkable that the fast food chain Burger King has kept its slogan for so long that I could have written this same article 10 or even 20 years ago and it would have made sense. Whether you like Burger King or not (I used to be a fan, but not so much anymore), that is quite an achievement of marketing and consistency. What is the slogan? “Have it your way.” In recent years, they have added the little tagline, “You rule” to the end, but the slogan has remained all this time. And a lot of people love BK for that. They love the idea that, whatever…
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The One That is Different
During a typical year there are four months which have five Sundays. On those four (and sometimes five) Sundays the church where I worship and serve does something we call “church – eat – church.” Instead of dismissing after the morning worship service and returning a few hours later for our evening worship, we are together for about four-and-a-half straight hours. We begin our time together with a period of Bible study. We may be divided by age or other factors, but we are all studying the same Divine Book. There are two periods of time during which we all assemble to offer worship to the One in whose name…
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True Freedom
On this day America celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This document declared that we were free from British rule. There are all kinds of historical facts about the writing of this document and the actual dates as to when it was signed and by whom, but nevertheless America became a free country – and that’s what we celebrate on this national holiday. Or is it? Maybe we just have a holiday on that day? On that day we’re off of work, we picnic, we shoot off fireworks or enjoy a fireworks show but never really give much thought to the freedom of our country. If we give…
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We Can’t Forget “Jerusalem”
Just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told those gathered with Him that they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Many throughout the years have noted that these words serve as an outline of sorts for the book of Acts, as the Gospel did in fact spread from the city of Jerusalem, then out to the surrounding regions, and ultimately throughout the Roman Empire, all within just about three decades. Those words from Jesus, though, have also been utilized by congregations to think about their own evangelistic efforts. By “Jerusalem,” a congregation might think about…
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Maybe More Than Merely a Kernel of Truth
I’ve been told that the best comedy contains a kernel of truth. If that is true, it is my opinion that the cartoon reproduced above must be really hilarious. Unfortunately though, for those who truly care about the cause of Jesus it may not be all that funny. Some, like me, may be saddened by the message of this cartoon that recently appeared in a news feed that showed up on my computer the other day from something called Church of the Covered Dish. I would like to suggest a three-part challenge for all of us. First, please consider the implications of the cartoon. Second, consider the implications of this…
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It’s Okay to Ask
This past Sunday, I had a realization about a concept I had never before considered. It wasn’t that I didn’t know all the individual parts of what I’m about to describe. It’s just that I had never put them together for joint consideration and when I did, I was encouraged. It has long been amazing to me that Jesus, knowing what all would happen to Him while on this earth, was resolute. I love the verse In Luke 9 that reads: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (v. 51). Being equally human and divine, Jesus understood the…
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V. B. & S.
Let me begin by stating clearly: I think VBS is a good thing. This is not a “bash VBS” article. However, it is meant to be a “let’s rethink some things about VBS” article. One thing I am grateful for at Central is that we have changed how we view VBS. Often, congregations have a big event like this, draw in a bunch of people, and then nothing changes. We have made serious efforts at Central this year to follow up with guests (in the immediate days afterward and it is still ongoing), and we continue to believe we will have prospects for Bible studies from VBS. It is far…
