   More than one hundred verses in the New Testament contain warnings. What are these warnings about? — the dangers of neglecting regular exercise and proper dental care? Of course not. The warnings are about the danger of neglecting God and your immortal soul. But many today wonder why such warnings are needed anymore. […]
   We were warned in seminary against trying to force too many changes too fast on our conservative congregations. We were cautioned about the problems of differing expectations, and told to be aware of any long-established power structures among the church leadership. We were also advised that there would be an automatic resistance to
3359) Looking Back Read More »
   I was cleaning out an old storeroom in one of the churches I served many years ago. Under a pile of junk, covered with dust, I found a big book of old sermons. The sermons had been discovered and published in the 1950’s by the descendant of a pastor who served that congregation
3357) Give Your Preacher a Break Read More »
   Since I have retired, I have visited many churches. Some of them have been huge, seating many hundreds, even thousands, of worshipers. After worship, people may exit out of any one of many doors.    Most of the churches I served were small, seating at the most 200, crowded in for big
3298) “Good Sermon, Pastor!” Read More »
   On the one hand, low interest rates are good—for first home buyers looking at the interest on a thirty-year loan; on the other hand, low interest rates are bad—for retirees depending on the interest earned on their savings. On the one hand, a higher minimum wage is good– for those who receive it;
3259) On the Other Hand… Read More »
   The congregation I am a member of has called a new pastor. Today he will preach in our church for the first time. Our current pastor is retiring after faithfully leading these people for 35 years. The Call Committee has been planning, searching, and interviewing candidates for over a year and a half.Â
3121) Seeking the Perfect Pastor Read More »
Pictured above: January 6, 1980 ——————————————————    (…continued) God himself has promised to be in these words, inadequate and unpolished as they might be, from me or any other preacher; or, as unwanted as they might be sometimes by you.  In Isaiah 55:10-11, God says about his word: “As the rain and the snow
2752) Coming Up With the Words (b) Read More »
Painting above:Â The Torment of Creative Work, by Leonid Pasternak (1862-1945) ——————————————- I was ordained forty-five years ago today. Â The following is from a sermon I gave when my congregation celebrated my first 25 years in the ministry. Â Â Â One day when my son was about nine years old, he and several of the
2751) Coming Up With the Words (a) Read More »
   A sermon is supposed to explain and proclaim God’s whole Word, whether we like it or not.  If you like everything the preacher says all the time, the preacher is probably not doing his or her job– and pastors need to be careful about that.  They must resist the temptation to be only
2551) Hear the Word of the Lord Read More »
    (…continued from #2532)  Let’s apply this (from part one) to another setting.  Imagine yourself at the doctor’s office.  Your doctor is a good doctor, but a rather bland and boring person.  He never smiles, doesn’t have time for a joke, and he always has the same dull look on his face.  One day
2534) Jay Leno and Me (part two of two) Read More »
