Church Life
-
“When It’s Not Fun Anymore”
I was thinking recently about a famous couple who “called it quits” a few years ago. Of course, they were not married to each other. You wouldn’t really expect that from a thoroughly modern couple, would you? They had “been together” for a few years. In today’s social climate, and especially in Hollywood, that’s an accomplishment in itself. Sadly, it is becoming more and more of an accomplishment in far too many segments of our society. I remember seeing a short clip of an interview with the woman who was no longer a part of this relationship. She was asked when a person “knows it’s over.” Her answer was, “When…
-
When Attendance Declines, Don’t Automatically Blow Everything Up
I heard of it happening again not far away from where I live. As is always the case, it led to some hurt feelings and a great deal of confusion, even though I am certain such was not the intent. It followed a particular pattern that is so often seen. Some program or series of events begins to hit a lull in attendance. Leaders, out of what I believe is typically a great place in their hearts, begin to try to figure out what is going on. And, in an effort to stem the tide of losing numbers, they choose to completely change things up. Basically, they blow up the…
-
What is Life Worth?
The title of this article is also the title of a book. The subtitle of the book is The Unprecedented Effort to Compensate the Victims of 9/11. The author of the book, Kenneth R. Feinberg, was appointed by the then-Attorney General of the United States, John Ashcroft, to administer a fund that had been created just eleven days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Congress had set no limit on the size of the awards and had given Mr. Feinberg very few guidelines. Of course, he had a staff, but every final decision about an appropriate amount to be awarded to those who lost loved ones and/or those…
-
Shared Poetry
I did a Ladies’ Day in Elk City Oklahoma a few days ago. It was a great day and the ladies did an excellent job with the decorations, lunch, and other activities. One of my favorite parts of the day was a poem that was written by one of their ladies, Pam Hagerman. It was so moving as she presented it and I asked her permission to share it with all of you. It did not have a title on the sheets she gave me, so I present it here to you in its entirety. In guilt and fear Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.…
-
One Thing Hell is Not
I have seen it twice in the last few days. Driving around a smaller town, I have seen a man on a street corner holding a sign. To his credit, he is not shouting at people or being a nuisance. He is simply holding a sign with a message he intends to share with those who drive or walk by. At the top of the posterboard sign, in huge Sharpie letters are two words: “Universal Salvation.” Underneath, in smaller, but still very readable ink, are four words: “Hell is a Hoax.” I get it. I get the mindset that would lead to someone making such a sign and trying to…
-
The Best Rest You Will Ever Get
How important is your sleep to you? Do you look forward to the end of the day when you are completely worn out, and you finally get to sit down or lie down and just rest? (The older you are the more you look forward to that moment at the end of the day). It is funny how we can remain active to a certain point each day and then all of a sudden, our bodies just tell us that we are DONE! When that moment comes, how satisfying it is to stop all activity and simply rest. Before you read any further I would like you to pause and…
-
And the Winner Is…
“March Madness” is almost over. By the time some of you read this, the field will be down to two teams. The championship game is tonight. For those who follow college basketball closely, this is an exciting time of the year. After a long season, and an exciting tournament, one team will hold the trophy high for all to see, cut down the nets, and bask in the glow of being the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Champions. At that (to borrow a phrase) “one shining moment” in their young lives nothing could be better than that experience. Nothing could be more important than the title they worked…
-
The Flip Side of the Ants
You know all those memes around this time of year that say “Check on your teacher friends … they are not ok!” Those are true! Not only has spring fever hit, but it is also testing season, allergy season, and wait-I-have-too-much-to-still-teach season. I say all of that to let you know, I have not totally lost my mind with this week’s article title. Some of you may remember that a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the dedication and teamwork we can see in the ants as they forage for food. I mentioned that I had seen ants seeking out new “fields” for harvest, even in the master shower…
-
Kicked Out of Church
Have you ever gotten your feelings hurt at church? I know that we are the church and that church is not some place we go, but for the purpose of this discussion I am asking the question. I’m going to go ahead and answer the question for you because we both know the answer is yes. The only possibility for you to say no would be if you were so infrequent to the assemblies that church really has become for you a place you go and not who you are. If that is the case you really don’t have a relationship with other Christians in the family of God, and…
-
And You Didn’t Even Know I Liked Poetry!
One of the most popular ideas today is that sincerity trumps truth. Over and over again, we hear the following statement (or something very close to it): “It doesn’t matter what one believes as long as he or she is sincere.” Gospel preachers, elders, Bible class teachers, and a host of other members of the body of Christ have tried to help people to see the fallacy in that type of thinking. Because of their concern for the souls of those who are religious, but wrong, they have employed a variety of methods, lines of reasoning, etc. to help people to see… that there is such a thing as absolute…
