My engagement with my work led to more questions, which brought me back to more reflection. The ever-pressing question was, “Where is God in work?”
How to Preach a Funeral
Now that this is a more intuitive process for me, I share these three practical guidelines for preaching a funeral.
Preaching Ephesians in 2020
There may be no better text for preaching in divisive cultural moments than the book of Ephesians. Here, the church sees a picture of all-encompassing unity.
“Tyrant” by Stephen Greenblatt
Don’t just read this book because you think you should like Shakespeare. Read it because we need it right now. Really. (Nonfiction)
Trust
We live in an age of distrust, which has profound implications for the church as an institution, for us as people, and for leadership.
The Revelation Of
Factions from both sides of the aisle find reasons to believe their opponent is the devil’s minion or the devil incarnate.
“Oblivion” by David Foster Wallace
All of the stories are slightly weird, and all of them will make you shift uncomfortably in your chair and probably look a little differently at the people all around you. (Fiction)
Starting with a Clean Slate
We must take a fresh look at our priorities, and the spiritual discipline of detachment is invaluable in this process.
Resource Highlight: What the Church Health Assessment Is Teaching Us About Generational Differences
What contributes to the growing divide between older and younger generations' views of the church?
Five Simple Steps to Change a Life
Have your neighbors, coworkers, or classmates over for a meal. Just pick a family out of your world and host them in your home.
“Say Nothing” by Patrick Radden Keefe
Anyone who knows the story of Northern Ireland already knows a great deal of what is going to happen, yet it reads like a well plotted murder mystery or historical fiction. (Nonfiction)
Gluttony and Temperance: Ever-Present Vice and Neglected Virtue
With how much restraint do you enjoy life’s greatest pleasures?
“Pattern Recognition” by William Gibson
You know who coined the term cyberspace? It was not a physicist, but a novelist. (Fiction)
For Elders Who are Facilitating Gender Inclusion, Create a Relational Map
Build relational bridges now, with intention and sincerity.
Leaning into Leviticus
Every decision we make, from the food we eat to how we structure our time, provides an opportunity to show a watching world who God is.
“Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt
In a world where traditional Christian cosmology is often depicted as a form of silly superstition, it seems as if other theories sometimes get a free pass. (Nonfiction)
Urgent About the Right Things
If our urgency is misplaced, we will create unnecessary tension that ultimately pulls us – and possibly others – away from the will of God.
“Machines Like Me” by Ian McEwan
One of the main things that McEwan wishes to explore is what happens if we create robots that have a higher sense of morality than we have. (Fiction)
Demonstrated. Present. Essential.
We witness a demonstration of love that speaks to the humility and self-sacrificing nature of who Jesus is at his very core .
Discerning a Path for Renewal
Rather than rush from one thing to another, healthy churches live with meaning and intentionality, doing what they do with excellence.