Once upon a time, in a time much earlier than our own and a place far from here, lived an old man and an old woman. They had walked the earth for many years together as husband and wife. Many years before, when the possibilities of the world stretched endlessly before them, they had dreamed … Continue reading The Embracing Church: Xenia – The Practice of Hospitality
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Finding Our Way From House to House
I confess that for all of my technological sophistication, I have still not entered into the age of the GPS. However, as I have been thinking about the task of visiting and being on the go (not unlike the old circuit riders, but in a beat-up minivan) I have been mulling over getting a GPS … Continue reading Finding Our Way From House to House
On the Mt of Temptation
Priest at the Mount of Temptation
Created with dumpr.net - fun with your photos
The Search for Organizational Bliss
I confess that I am an organizational junkie. I have been looking for years for the right system to keep me on track, to help me overcome my tendency to procrastinate, and to fight against the undiagnosed ADHD that I am sure I have. I have tried all sorts of systems, day planners, task managers, … Continue reading The Search for Organizational Bliss
Copperhead Road
Recently the Rolling Stone featured a review of the re-release of Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road,” noting it’s significance in the catalog of this prolific and excellent songwriter. “Copperhead Road” had been an important album for me in my past, and I pulled it out again, ripped it to the computer, and put it in the … Continue reading Copperhead Road
Music Video of the Week — “Take Me To The River”
Not to jump on Gavin’s bandwagon, but I’ve always loved this cover of Al Green’s “Take Me To the River.”
Tomorrow Is Download Day
Tomorrow, Tuesday June 17, will be the day that the new release of Mozilla’s Firefox 3 browser is released. The folks at Mozilla are hoping that they will set a record for the most downloads in a day, and I want to encourage all to think seriously about downloading the new edition of Firefox. Some … Continue reading Tomorrow Is Download Day
Lifehacker’s Top 10 Office Supply Hacks
Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Office Supply HacksThis is a great article with several good ideas in managing your technology.
Renewing the TechnoPastor
Okay, this site has been dark since January, primarily due to the author being a bit too busy. However it's time to more forward, so be watching for an increase in posts in the coming days. One of the things that I will be doing more regularly is sharing technological stuff that I find helpful … Continue reading Renewing the TechnoPastor
The Embracing Church: Tolerance, Inclusion, and Embrace
This is the third in a sermon series on The Embracing Church For the past couple of weeks, we have been thinking together about what it might be to be a church which is known to welcome all with the love of God, a church that reaches out with grace and acceptance to draw folks … Continue reading The Embracing Church: Tolerance, Inclusion, and Embrace
A Blast from the Past for Father’s Day
I don't know why, but I couldn't resist this remembrance today.
The Embracing Church: The Ways We Exclude
This is the second sermon in a series on The Embracing Church “Okay, guys. It’s time to choose sides…” Those words are part of a ritual that has been a part of our lives almost from the beginning. It is a ritual that has been seen again and again in countless gyms, on schoolyards, and … Continue reading The Embracing Church: The Ways We Exclude
A Plug for SoulFeast
Next month, Kay and the girls and I will load up the car and head six hours south to the Mecca of southeastern Methodism, Lake Junaluska, for our annual pilgrimage to the SoulFeast Conference, sponsored by the Upper Room. We started attending SoulFeast several years ago when we were short on funds and needed to … Continue reading A Plug for SoulFeast
Live Blogging Adam Hamilton on Evangelism
October 2-3 -- COR Leadership Institute Reaching new folks for JC will require change: 3 Questions for Consideration: Why do people need Jesus Christ? Why do people need the church? Why does anyone need our particular church? Many congregations suffer from low self-esteem. Part of our job is to help congregations see what is remarkable … Continue reading Live Blogging Adam Hamilton on Evangelism
Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 3 — Preaching and more…
Make sure to plan your sermons in advance. Five Types of Sermons: Fishing Expeditions -- addressing the questions or concerns of non-religious individuals. Want to announce those at Candlelight Christmas Eve service which can be a great time to draw visitors. Discipleship Sermons -- take folks deeper in their faith (usually in Lent) Healing Sermons … Continue reading Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 3 — Preaching and more…
Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 2 — Worship and Preaching
Imagine entering a restaurant where you walk in and no one speaks initially, they toss you a menu, and take forever to go speak with you. Then, when you finally order the food it takes long to get there and the food isn't very good, lukewarm, and you find a hair in the food. Are … Continue reading Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 2 — Worship and Preaching
Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 1 — Leadership
The challenges ahead of us are huge, and we have to be able to lead in new ways, not worrying about things like apportionments. We are in part in a leadership crisis. Seminaries don't do a very good job in training folks to offer leadership in a church in crisis. Telling the story of his … Continue reading Live Blogging Adam Hamilton Session 1 — Leadership
Skipping Ordination
Ten years ago, at a gathering of the Tennessee Annual Conference not unlike the one I am currently attending, I knelt at an altar and felt Bishop Kenneth Carder lay his hands upon me for my ordination as a probationary deacon (I came in under the 1992 Book of Discipline). It was certainly not the … Continue reading Skipping Ordination
Only Wonder Understands 