I want no more of your pious meetings. Does the above phrase sound like a rebellious teenager? How about this? I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! You may think that sounds like an even more rebellious teen, but fact is that’s … Continue reading –>
When I became a Christian, I often wondered what people meant when they said they were “waiting on the Lord.” From my observations, it looked to me to be a very passive activity. So I asked people what they meant by “waiting on the Lord.” Most said that they were praying and waiting for the … Continue reading –>
It is called the bait and switch. That’s when one thing is advertised, usually at a great price, with the intention of substituting either something more costly or of less value. This tactic has been used for everything from automobiles to grocery store bargains. The goal is to get people in the door who otherwise … Continue reading –>
How special are the men and women working in our community services centers around the world? Well consider this: Nowhere in the Bible do I read of a high priest being raised from the dead, or a pastor or head elder. But I do read this: At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, … Continue reading –>
Too often in church conversations, we quote Bible verses and Spirit of Prophecy quotations, but we share little about the practical application of those passages in everyday Christian life. By contrast last year’s excellent article by Lars Justinen, “Hot Lunch and Syrian Refugees,” is worth reading as a practical application of what this set of lessons is all about. Not all of … Continue reading –>
Back in 1991 my wife and I leased an old red brick building in downtown Nampa, Idaho, as our art studio. For $200/month we got 5,000 square feet of space on the second floor of a 100-year-old building, including a large room we used as our photo studio. After a year we ended up hiring … Continue reading –>
When I was a little kid I had a strange and wild imagination. I would lie awake at night wondering how I got to be me. Why was I not a dinner table chair instead? (That only freaked me out even more – thinking about the possibility of being something that doesn’t even know it exists. How … Continue reading –>
We love titles, even in Christian circles. Whether it is Pastor, President, Professor, or Pope, titles are common currency in the church’s vocabulary. Inherent within some of those titles is the concept of hierarchy, authority and very often, privilege. The obvious or unseen but well-known underbelly of titles is church politics. A classic example of … Continue reading –>
Why do we do what we do? What motivates any of us to do anything? People are trying to motivate us to do things all the time. They want us to spend our money at their stores. They want us to buy their product or drive their car. Teachers try to motivate their students to … Continue reading –>
