Busyness is not a sign of success, effectiveness, or importance, yet many live their lives as if it is. Busyness is a sign that our schedules are too full, and we are missing the opportunity to be fully present in the moment, focused on our true priorities. Of course, there are times, maybe even seasons, where circumstances require us to live with heavy agendas, but […]
Tomorrow is Pentecost. It is also two weeks since I announced to the congregation I serve that a change in pastoral leadership is coming. As you can imagine, accepting the coming change is a difficult thing. Some people are ready to move forward while others are still trying to adjust to the news. For many this time simply feels like chaos, and questions about the […]
Our church is currently in the midst of our annual stewardship program. This is an important part of our life together where we consider what it means to be a steward of all God gives us, and where we encourage each other to embrace more of what the Holy Spirit is asking of us. This is not about “getting people’s money,” instead; we are looking […]
In the digital would we live in, it is easy to appear lost should you decide to unplug for a while. We are accustomed to speedy responses and easy accessibility leaving a myriad of open-ended questions if we fail to respond as expected. Take too long responding to a friend request on Facebook and someone’s feelings are hurt. Take some time away from the computer […]
Earlier today, I commented on a Facebook post regarding a Christian perspective on environmental concerns. It was a link to a blog post on the Nature Conservancy site and was a wonderful challenge to Christians to take responsibility for the stewardship of the earth. In my comment, I affirmed the quality of the piece and the Nature Conservancy’s willingness to post it. I added my […]
Bob pierce, founder of World Vision, once said, “One man cannot do it all, but one man with a lifetime can be enough of an example to have someone follow in his footsteps.” We have the opportunity to the impact our communities and to consider what we are leaving behind us. Many others will inherit the results of our decisions and ministry efforts, just as we […]
Today, is the culmination of our congregation’s annual stewardship campaign. On this Consecration Sunday, we ask people to reaffirm their commitment to be stewards of all God gives them. Yes, this involves a financial pledge, but in includes so much more. Stewardship can be an unpopular topic. We like our privacy. We tire of the media voices inundating us with requests for money, and honestly, […]