At our last Presbytery meeting (the regional gathering of EPC churches), we received training on congregational health. There are several qualities that characterize healthy, growing churches. One was this: healthy churches are focused on the future, not on the past. I understand that. I even agree with it. We can’t live in the past. Our […]
Emotionally healthy
How did your family of origin handle conflict, emotions, and stress? British culture is true to its stereotype – the “stiff upper lip” and “keep calm and carry on” sayings you’ve heard ring true in my personal experience. Handling life and its challenges with poise and perseverance, grace and grit, are the values I inherited. […]
Building community in the stages of life
I am in a season of life when it could be easy to feel like a lot of my community building and relational connection happens on the go. My life is marked by conversations on the sideline at soccer games, or in the middle of the cross-country field during the meet, before or after a […]
To see past life’s distractions, pray together
Short people learn to leap over obstacles. Being short all my life (climbing cabinets, projecting my voice and my personality, lifting heavy stuff both literal and figurative), I can attest with Zacchaeus: obstacles are made to be overcome! In our passage from Luke last week, Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus, and once Jesus saw […]
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The role of grandparents in our lives
My wife and I are very proud grandparents of six grandchildren and one on the way that is due in November. We have noticed that our fellow grandparents seem to say that once you have grandchildren, it’s time to take it easy and enjoy spoiling them. We both have recognized, however, that this is not […]
But Lord, what am I do to about it?
Have you ever wondered what it takes to spark a spiritual awakening in a nation lost in darkness? Picture an era where indulgence and extravagance ruled the day, where people lived for the moment without a thought for eternity. Perhaps the following quote may describe what you are thinking of: “In cities… parties, fashion shows, […]
Gather here.
Do you remember the first time you felt able to truly be yourself in church: questions, pain and rough edges included? For me that place was my first experience of Alpha 20 years ago. It’s the first place it felt okay to share my spiritual doubts, my theological questions and my real-life, real-time hurt. In […]
High-powered drinking
(THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, ONE SERVICE only, 10:00 am!) I had a German Shepherd named Caleb and he was hilarious. When I sprayed a stream of water from the garden hose, he hated it! He attacked it, snapped at it, and would leap in the air to “catch it.” Then, he’d walk toward me, trying […]
Good work
A couple of weeks ago, I hired “Dean” to replace the leaking gutters on our home. I assumed he would show up with a team of people to do the job. After all, they roll the gutters in place, seamlessly, a custom-fit for the job. He would need help handling the 60-foot plus length of […]
Will we whine or will we pray?
There are lots of things you learn as a parent of a toddler. The latest lesson at our house: whining. My mom used to quote the verse, “do all things without grumbling or complaining” all the time to us kids. Now I know why! But upon further reflection, I am ashamed to admit, my daughter […]