WEdnesday Morning Men's Group

This morning our WEdnesday morning men's group continued our study of Richard Rohr's book "Falling Upward" which is rich with teachings that challenge me to go deeper in my understanding of the Christian life.
Some great quotes just from today's chapter
*Everytime God forgives us, God is saying that God's own rules do not matter as much s the relationship that God wants to create with us.
*If God has not learned to draw straight with crooked lines, God is not going to be drawing very many lines at all.
*I do not think you should get rid of your sin until you have learned what it has to teach  you.  Otherwise, it will only return in new forms.

Powerful stuff!

You Preached A Lot Better

This past Sunday I preached in our annual pulpit exchange at a local African American church that our church has a long standing and cherished relationship with.  Every year I typically preach the same sermon I preached the week before in my own church.  This year one of our members happened to be in both services---the week before in our church and this past Sunday in the African American church.   He heard the same sermon both times, only the locations were different.  And after the second time around, he said (with a smile) "You preached a lot better this time."  And it was true.  I felt it myself.  What was the difference?   I would suggest it was the interaction and engagement of those sitting in the pews.    I remember years ago John Killinger wrote that many people ask, "Where are the great preachers?"  He said the better question is "Where are the great congregations?" and then summed it all up by saying, "Find the great congregations and you will find the great preachers."   In other words, preaching is hugely impacted by the congregation being preached to.   In the African American church they were encouraging me on, clapping even at times, saying "Amen" and building me up to where I got caught up in it myself.  I'm not advocating "Amens" and clapping in excess but I do wonder how can church members take seriously their own role in the preaching experience.  Any thoughts?   After all, the other 50 some Sundays I'd like to preach better as well.

Holy Week Pilgrims

A quote by Mark Feldmeir---"Jesus is heading for Jerusalem, after all.  He is going to die in Jerusalem.  He knows that.  So he's looking for someone to take with him, someone to join the inner circle, someone to whom he can give the keys to his office after he checks out. They could have been heroes.  They could have been followers.  But they chose instead to be mere admirers."

New Beginnings

This is a first for me.  A new blog, which is both scary and exciting, as is true of all beginnings.  So the journey begins....hope it will be the first of many conversations about things that matter (and a few that don't)!!!  Let me know.

New Website Coming Soon

We are currently working on our new website.  I, for one, am very excited to see it go live soon.