Originally posted at my blog earlier in May. ---Doug I've spent a good bit of time these past weeks reading in early medieval Britain. Fortunately for me, the books have been mostly translated into modern English. Except for one from the 1800s that left the most important quotes in the original Latin. Shows a bit of a focus change in education: Latin was once a bigger deal than it is now. Of course, I'm now going to be spending this summer getting a better grasp of it… Moving on, one of the situations I learned about in this process was the conflict in the fifth and … [Read more...] about Right on the small–wrong on the big
SBC Issues
Does My Waistline Undermine My Message?
This post was originally published at sbcIMPACT on January 14, 2009. Since then, I have had some health problems and can no longer call myself "the best conditioned morbidly obese man in America" - plus that sumo guy did that marathon a couple of weeks ago anyway. But I am approaching this from a self-control perspective and trying to do something about the problem. All you young guys, remember this: it's a LOT easier to keep the weight off than to take it off. Hope you enjoy this! Everywhere I go I carry with me a public testimony to my failed struggle with self-control. I am more than … [Read more...] about Does My Waistline Undermine My Message?
Imagining That Godliness Is a Means of Gain
Editor's Note: This is a repost of a post that originally appeared at my blog Jeofurry's Jesus Journey. As a pastor, there are some things in the Bible that stick out more than others to me. Paul's "pastoral epistles" are of particular note in this category. I know that I am not just like Titus or Timothy, but I can certainly learn a thing or two from the advice that Paul dispensed to these young men. Actually, we all can, but that is for another time. The reason this comes up for me now is because of something I saw on TV last night. I was flipping channels and came across a … [Read more...] about Imagining That Godliness Is a Means of Gain
Monday Ministry Musing: The Most Important Church I Pastor
I’ve had to learn something the hard way again…imagine that!!! The Lord is painfully showing me the need of being a faithful pastor to that which Jonathan Edwards called your little church: “Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church.” I cannot be a faithful pastor to my wife and son at “big” church until I am a faithful pastor to my wife and son at our own little church. I think many pastors struggle with this. I know I do. I work at the office preparing sermons, spending time in study, time in prayer, time planning, and time solving all the worlds problems … [Read more...] about Monday Ministry Musing: The Most Important Church I Pastor
The Shelter in the Midst of the Storm
For you [Lord] have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.—Isaiah 25:4 The other day I wrote a blog post about creation groaning in light of the recent tornadoes and other natural disasters. Little did I know then, how close to home that would strike. On Wednesday I made the hour and forty-five minute trek from my present home to my hometown for the funeral of a friend and neighbor (the man was a much much nicer Mr. Wilson to my not so hyperactive Dennis the Menace). On the way there I drove through … [Read more...] about The Shelter in the Midst of the Storm
Don’t Let the Jerks Get You Down
There are some books that I have never read, but that I think qualify for all-time brilliant title awards. My favorite is, "Normal is Just a Setting on Your Dryer." Gotta love that. Captain John Trimmer blessed us with a tome entitled, "How to Avoid Big Ships" - a problem that each of us face on a daily basis. Sgt. Rick Pelicano authored, "Bombproof Your Horse." In these days, everyone needs to be concerned about horse-terrorism issues, don't we? The "Huh?" award goes to Brian Piddick's "How to Write a How to Write Book." P.L.H. McSweeny addressed one of life's great challenges in, … [Read more...] about Don’t Let the Jerks Get You Down
Apparently, You Are What You’re Named
Gee, Pastor White, I really appreciate your seeing me like this. I’m sort of stuck in an awkward position, and I can’t quite figure out what to do. What I mean is I’m trying to help a friend of mine, and I just can’t seem to figure out how. I’m hoping you could advise me in some way. What? No, it’s like I said: a friend of mine. I’ve got this pal, a buddy named Juan Pablo Montoya. He’s Cuban; well, Cuban-American. His folks are Cuban, but Juan was born here and grew up in South Florida. He’s got the whole Latin family thing going on there. I mean, it’s crazy how many cousins he’s got, … [Read more...] about Apparently, You Are What You’re Named
Gay Culture: The Mouse that Keeps on Roaring
I confess to having been a sinner my entire life, revealed by my own actions, always in danger of being smashed like a gnat by someone big enough to demand retribution . . . but always in hope of being picked up and set free again by someone big enough to forgive. I've often perched on the top of a magnificent peak, foreboding with the potential for destruction, but dazzling with its view of hoped-for restoration. Better there, though, than down in the valley where those who refuse to acknowledge their own worldly shortcomings mingle with those who don't believe they can ever be forgiven and … [Read more...] about Gay Culture: The Mouse that Keeps on Roaring
Are you sure you are saved?
As I look out over a congregation, any group that claims to be mostly made of up Believers, I am haunted by two things that always leave me wondering. You see, Jesus said in Matthew chapter seven there will be people who think they are saved, but are not. They have fruit, but it's bad fruit. When judgement comes, they think they are in, but will hear "depart from me, I never knew you". The second thing is a story I know from a very wise and Godly man. When he was younger, he entered the ministry and began to pastor. One evening he attended a revival meeting to support some of the work … [Read more...] about Are you sure you are saved?
The Danger of “Open Doors”
You are lonely. You passionately pray for God to bring a companion. The next day you meet this absolutely amazing person of the opposite sex. Everything seems perfect. God has “finally opened up this door”. Yeah, he’s not a believer, but you are confident that because God has perfectly aligned the stars this person will certainly become a believer soon enough. It’s the will of God. It has to be. I’ve counseled a good number of people with this very mindset (not just teenagers, either). Things are lining up into place so this MUST be the will of God. After all doesn’t God … [Read more...] about The Danger of “Open Doors”