Category Archives: Ministry

June 12, 2017 · 5:36 pm

Day by day . . .

There is a phrase that appears twice in Acts 2:46&47: “day by day”.  The first time it says, “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. That is followed up in the next sentence with: “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

This is a picture of life in the early church.  It gives us some insight into what the disciples of Jesus did in the days after Pentecost.  It’s always been an inviting picture to me, as the church sort of found its way together and enjoyed the blessings of God’s work in their midst.  It’s the text I’ve invited our congregation to pray through this week as we continue a prayer focus related to a revitalization initiative we are sharing.

I’ve never been very good at living “day by day”, have you? Continue reading →

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Filed under Christian Faith, Cycling, Ministry, Uncategorized

May 26, 2017 · 3:35 pm

Imagination

This time of year always reminds me of my childhood, growing up in central Indiana. Childhood can be a grand experience – perhaps only fully appreciated in hind sight.  My own childhood was safe, happy and filled with things that I enjoyed.

As the youngest of five children in my family of origin, and living in a rural setting, I was often my own best play mate.  I utilized my imagination to fully engage in daily basketball games on the court in the backyard.  I played all the players – tossing the ball to myself from myself – giving myself names of South Putnam High School or Purdue University players I admired, and narrating the radio call of the game in my head – or out loud.

And you know what? I never lost a game! Continue reading →

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Filed under Christian Faith, Cycling, Hope, Ministry, Uncategorized

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Keeping Jesus’ Commandments

The First Baptist Church “Hope & Pray Moving Company” was at it again earlier today. That’s the name I’ve come up with for our group of volunteers who help persons in the congregation move their household from one home to the next.  I think our motto is “We hope it fits and pray it gets there!”.  Hey, you get what you pay for, right?

Seriously, in my time as pastor of this congregation I’ve watched, helped and appreciated this rotating crew of men and women who just jump in when a need arises to assist with a move.  We’ve helped move people from their home to an assisted living facility, from one home to another, from an apartment into a first home, out of a home that was flooded, into a moving truck that’s headed cross country  – you name it, we’ve probably done it.  An appeal goes out, and people show up!  It’s amazing – and rewarding.  Continue reading →

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May 20, 2017 · 1:28 pm
May 9, 2017 · 3:40 pm

Another Kind of Cabbage

When I was in seminary I completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a hospital setting one summer.  My particular assignment was on a heart specialty floor where I related to patients and families identified as CABG recipients.  In the vernacular of the medical profession CABG (pronounced “cabbage” – though it has nothing to do with a vegetable) stands for Coronary Artery By-pass Graft.  In other words these folks (the cabbage patients) were having heart by-pass surgery. They were on that floor due to heart trouble.

In John 14:1 Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  That was not always a good verse to share as a hospital chaplain on the CABG floor!  Heart trouble had landed the occupants of that floor in those rooms.  Often they were there post heart attack – perhaps the most troubled condition our hearts can physically endure.

Of course Jesus wasn’t addressing the physicality or anatomy of the human heart muscle when he shared these words in John 14:1. Continue reading →

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Filed under Hope, Ministry, Pastors, Uncategorized

April 4, 2017 · 9:19 pm

Webinar: “Leadership with Questions”

You can watch our FREE archived webinar “Leadership with Questions” produced by Judson Press here.

Webinar Description: Do you ever grow tired of being expected to have all the answers? What if you tried leading others with questions? What if, through questions, you helped others find the answers to the challenges of church life and personal discipleship? 

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Filed under Christian Faith, Leadership, Pastors, Uncategorized