Ever feel like you were born in the wrong time period? Maybe the wrong century? I feel like that sometimes, because I get excited about Sunday School. Lots of churches still have Sunday School, but I am not sure it gets much attention or energy these days. In my opinion, a church that puts it's Sunday School program out front, promotes it, resources it, grows and expands it will be a healthy, growing, disciple making church. I've seen it. I've done it. It's real and I've seen it happen outside the Bible belt. In fact, I've never served inside the Bible belt. Sunday School sort of … [Read more...] about Has My Passion Gone Out of Style?
NEVER WASTE A CRISIS: Did Donald Sterling’s Adultery Expose His Racism? (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr)
“NEVER WASTE A CRISIS” Did Donald Sterling's Adultery Expose His Racism? By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr. Donald Sterling's racism is well documented and has been appropriately redressed by Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner. But his adultery has gone largely unaddressed. No one of stature has related the impact of his adultery to this crisis. Wasn't Sterling's adultery the precursor to him receiving the death penalty, as a result of his racist rant? Wasn't it a recorded conversation with a female friend—that his wife was suing for having interfered with her marriage—the conversation that … [Read more...] about NEVER WASTE A CRISIS: Did Donald Sterling’s Adultery Expose His Racism? (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr)
Mining for Gold in the Sterling-Silver Confrontation
Yeah, I know. Corny. Remember, I am an Iowan. We don't have good weather. We don't have oceans or mountains or any major sports teams. So, we make puns. I thought that one was pretty good, regardless of the grief I took from it when I tweeted it yesterday. Before I say anything else about this mess, let me say this - Donald Sterling is a racist pig who deserved everything he got. Adam Silver gave him the bionic elbow and I cheered. Would that every scandal was handled with the firm justice Adam Silver meted out. And there is no point in trying to put Sterling's racism in any kind of … [Read more...] about Mining for Gold in the Sterling-Silver Confrontation
When To Stand Up and When to Sit Down: The Legislation of Morality
Let me start off saying that I'm a Jars of Clay fan, and as you may know, the lead singer Dan Haseltine sends a tweet that was unpopular. Reading his blog I completely understand his point of view, and it's a place I struggle too. As American's, we live in a country that is free and prides itself on our freedom. As a Christian, I can practice what I believe, I can attend worship and pray freely. Jews and Muslims are free to keep dietary rules, but I am free to eat bacon and ham. With the issue of homosexuality, we have a different issue, and so what do we do with that issue? As a … [Read more...] about When To Stand Up and When to Sit Down: The Legislation of Morality
Signs You May Not Last Long
The average tenure of a pastor isn't anything to brag about. It’s a little scary, actually. So I have put together some warning signs that you may want to watch for if you have have recently been hired at a church. If any of these are true of you, don’t throw your boxes away just yet. You may need them again real soon.. 1. They give you the keys to the buildings…and the lawnmower. I've mowed a lot of grass for the church. Nothing wrong with that. But if a church expects the pastor to do such jobs it could make for a tough ride. 2. You find out the new & exciting church the previous … [Read more...] about Signs You May Not Last Long
The Desperate Need for a Barnabas
Do you have a Barnabas in your life? You probably know that Barnabas means "son of encouragement". Do you have someone who encourages you? I sure hope so, because there are probably multiple people in your life who seek to do the opposite. Well meaning people who will try to save you from failure, often who squash dreams without even knowing it. In the last few years, I have had a strong pull and desire to start a house church network in the city I live in. There are multiple things that need to come together for this to happen, but I am pulled and drawn and compelled by this vision. … [Read more...] about The Desperate Need for a Barnabas
Ten Tips to a Testimony
Everyone has a story. And everyone who has trusted in Christ has the best story, one that's worth telling. Many believers, however, are a bit timid when it comes to sharing their stories. You might be one of these timid believers. This is, perhaps, because your story's details are somewhat of a discombobulated collection of experiences floating, like an astronaut in space, around your mind. It's all there, but you just can't seem to get it in order. Thankfully we have beautiful examples of a testimony's composition in Scripture. Paul's testimony before King Agrippa, for one, serves as a … [Read more...] about Ten Tips to a Testimony
How Should You Respond When a Fellow Believer is Excited About Untruth?
The two cute kids sit on mommy and daddy’s record player and look out the window. The little girl smiles in wonder and raises her little finger up to the heavens. “Oh, look ‘Zay-ah it’s the sun! Isn’t it bootiful?” She then pecks him on the cheek and smiles. She’s so excited to see this beautiful sunset. Her brother…not so much. In fact, he lovingly but confidently proceeds to burst her little bubble. “Uhmmm…that’s not the sun,” he says in his big brother voice, “that’s a reflection of the light into the window”. She argues. He argues. Then he “turns off the sun” and proves his point. … [Read more...] about How Should You Respond When a Fellow Believer is Excited About Untruth?
Small Church Pastors’ Attitudes (by Job Dalomba)
Let me put my cards on the table first and let you know that I am the pastor of a small church that is also a young church, barely a year old. We have a large handful of people, meet in a back room of a preschool that recently had a jackhammer in the ground due to construction happening to expand the building. We have very few resources by American standards and operate during the week from my office at home. I build the worship guides and a church member makes it fit on a single piece of paper that looks nice and readable. Another members print it off from their own personal printer each … [Read more...] about Small Church Pastors’ Attitudes (by Job Dalomba)
Three Ways I’ve Learned to Respond to Antagonists
There is an episode on the comedy sitcom The King of Queens, in which Carrie Heffernan is shunned from every nail salon in the neighborhood because of her poor attitude towards her manicurist. As it turns out, the nail salons are in cahoots with one another, and whenever she angrily leaves one they fax her picture to the others to make sure that no other salon has to unwittingly inherit her antagonistic behavior. This is a funny picture, to be sure, but I cannot help but sometimes wish that churches had a likeminded network when it comes to antagonistic church members. And by "antagonistic … [Read more...] about Three Ways I’ve Learned to Respond to Antagonists