My family and I spent two wonderful years in the Netherlands, in a town outside of Amsterdam called Hilversum. We had the privilege of planting an international church with a team of a dozen other people. Every year we were there, we held an Easter egg hunt on the Saturday before Easter. The title of this posting comes from the … Read More
Easter Bunny Theology
Sometimes church people and even well-meaning pastors miss some of the most amazing moments for reaching people through the cultural windows that are present and create opportunities for the gospel to come alive. I’m thinking about those moments in the Christian calendar that intersect with a huge cross-section of nominal Christians–Christmas and Easter. Tomorrow is Easter. Just today, as a … Read More
Christ Our Healer Sunday
On the morning Sunday, May 1, 2011, we’ll be having specially themed services at 9 and 11 on God’s power to heal. We will worship, take communion, hear testimonies about healing, listen to music, anoint the sick with oil, and pray with faith for people who need physical and emotional healing. I’m looking forward to this morning and the amazing … Read More
Forsaken
I don’t know how it is where you are, but where I live it is raining and kind of raw outside, like most Good Fridays I’ve experienced in my life. On Good Friday, I find my mind drifting to the central image of my faith–the crucifixion of Jesus. A lot happened that day, and they put him on the cross … Read More
Pain & Finding God
Q: Why does God take away the dearest people from you when you need them the most? How can we call God kind when all this does is leave hurts and pain? A: This question, submitted on our Q Sunday event in February 2011, is one that is part of the human experience and one that all thinking people ask … Read More
Feeling God’s Presence
Q: How can I, as a teenager, begin to feel God’s presence? How does he become more real and personal? This excellent question, submitted on our Q Sunday event on February 6, 2011 asks a question that many people pose at all stages of life. Becoming more aware of God’s presence and finding God to be more intimate in one’s … Read More
Biblical Translation
I’ve been asked what version of the Bible I use for the Sunday morning message at our church. I use the New International Version, Copyrighted 2011. I use this translation because I believe it is a good one. A number of my teachers in graduate school worked on this translation. Perhaps the New American Standard Bible is the best version … Read More
A Second Visioneering Meeting
This Sunday evening, April 17 at 6:30, we will be having the second of two Vision 2011 Meetings. Everyone who considers First Assembly their church home is encouraged to be present and participate. This coming Sunday night, we will briefly review the core values, mission, vision and goals of First Assembly that were presented in some detail at the first … Read More
My Life Group
I wanted to post today about the Life Group that Tracy and I plan to host in our home every Friday evening at our home from 6:30-to 8. We’re leading this group with Pastor Adam and Sarah Howard. The group is called “Character Development for Leaders”. This class is a Bible study designed around various character traits and leadership skills … Read More
Sabbath Keeping
Q: Do we still need to honor the command, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy”? What does that look like in our complicated American culture? A: This question, emailed to me on February 3, 2011 was one of the queries we couldn’t get to on our Q Sunday on February 6. The question was submitted by someone who … Read More