Church Blog (Page 63)
Leadership#3. “Filthy Lucre.”
My son and I were having one of those conversations about someone who had claimed to have been ‘ripped off’ in a transaction. Young John concluded, “As you have always said, ‘If you want someone to hate you, mess with their money.’” As much as I would have liked to have taken credit for that cautionary wisdom, I had to admit that it came to me from his grandfather, Al Horne. Money is the great divide. Wars are fought over…
Leadership#2. “Teachers are leaders.”
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (Jm.3:1). It can be argued that everyone is a ‘teacher’ (small ‘t’), but only some are ‘Teachers,’ (capital ‘T’). Biblically, this is so. Since a congregation’s teachers are responsible for the transfer of Holy Scripture from the text to the hearts and minds of those before them, they had better know what they are talking about. On any given Sunday in…
Leadership#1. “It starts with desire.”
It is a trustworthy statement: “if any man aspires to the office of overseer” (1Tim.3:1). Dennis Walton was an Elder in the Lord’s church in Azle, Texas. He has since gone on to his reward. When I was around Dennis, I was around a great man of God. I knew I was blessed to be in the presence of a man who put the mission of Christ and the church first. To this day I praise God that I am…
The Future#4. “Making Plans – Part Two.”
With the fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban in recent days, the plans of 30 million people have immediately changed. While the world is trying to avoid the deadly effects of a virus, the poor Afghan citizens are trying to avoid the deadly effects of Sharia Law. Life is happening to us all. For some, it’s the forces of nature and for others the forces of men. This one thing we hold in common—The power to choose.…
The Future#3. “Making Plans – Part One.”
We are told of a study where students were asked to state their future goals. The experts assured us that those who committed their future goals to writing became extremely successful. We are also told that no such study ever took place. So, what must we believe? Well, as one who lost his original list from his youth, I cannot give you a definitive answer. But I do believe that there is one area of life that proves that writing…
The Future#2. “Five Tips for a Better Tomorrow.”
1. Pray away your thin skin. I know that being told to develop a thick skin is not quickly appreciated. However, there is much virtue in it. For overlooking an offense will prevent those relationship-hindering emotions from forming and causing you to push others away. You may have to start by enduring a ‘smart-Alec’ or two, but it is worth it. Remember, your goal to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” and you will not get very…
The Future#1. “Where to from here?”
‘Tomorrow,’ who ever questions its inevitability? And yes, if the Lord wills, the sun will rise, and a new day will be gifted to us. But…inevitable? No necessarily so. For Jesus does not even guarantee that this one will end. His promise to return without warning is just that—a warning! Christians thrive in the hope of knowing that the future is completely in God’s hands. As believers we anticipate great things for the church because, as servants of Christ we…
The Present#4. “Why do you wait?”
Some have said that the church has lost all sense of spiritual urgency. I’m not sure that I agree. I wonder if it is not so much a loss of spiritual urgency, but instead a shift in its focus? Christians who once defined ‘Full-on Discipleship’ in terms of seeking first the welfare of Jesus’ church, now define ‘Full-on Discipleship’ as seeking first their personal relationship with Jesus. The urgency to conform one’s life to the greater fellowship of the saints…
The Present#3. “This is the day!”
When you are young, life is forever. ‘Today’ is the launching pad for an endless number of tomorrows. And praise the Lord, this is how it should be! Growing up, it is natural to look around at all the things you don’t have and to want them. When these desires mature and are put in context, they spur you on to better things—good things will happen. For the Christian, ‘To have is to share,’ and to share the proceeds of…
The Present#2. “All in a day’s work.”
If you are presently raising small children, you are indeed the blessed of all creation. But you are also, all things being equal, the busiest, the most tired, and the least free people on earth—your life not being your own. Though I can’t promise that your life will ever truly be your own again, I can assure you that you will again have some uninterrupted sleep; assuming they leave home, that is. In my youth I read a book called,…