We’re obviously in the midst of a “green” movement — but so what? I listen to the ongoing debate about “global warming” and it gives me a headache. The fate of the planet has been turned into a political playground, where “experts” on each side wastes an incredible amount of […]
I get inquiries on a regular basis to reproduce the instructions I have given to writing a Money Autobiography. I thought it would be easiest to do so here. Hope you find this helpful. This is part of the process of helping people in your congregation develop a healthier relationship […]
Fifty-five years ago the United States was deep into The Cold War. Paranoia, patriotism, and poor communication combined to allow such bizarre and embarrassing phenomena as McCarthyism and backyard bomb shelters. Our government, in an effort to protect and defend the American public, launched into a research frenzy — looking […]
Overheard, two pastors talking: Well, if this amendment passes, I can tell you one thing. My church isn’t going to pay its apportionments this year! What? You mean if you disagree with the decision you’d withhold apportionments? That’s kind of childish, isn’t it? Hey, I’m not childish. I’m childlike. Um, no, […]
Stewardship is both a worldview and a practice. Stewardship is a way of relating to God’s creation, not simply something we do in and for the church. Stewardship is about how we choose to live our Christian faith in the world. The concept of Christian stewardship was so corrupted and […]
Look at the following images. Which one most resembles your vision for mission and ministry in the church? There are visions, then there are visions. Let’s take a look at the various types of vision in our church and what impact they have on our overall effectiveness.
I wonder how many United Methodists are simply tired and bored with the same old, same old? There is a growing dual attitude about our churches that is important to note: some feel that we are irrelevant while others feel that we are little more than boring. Not everyone. I […]
This is the reprint of an article that appeared in The Wittenberg Door (September/October 2007), Alive Now! and on the General Board of Discipleship website, and a sequel to yesterday’s, The Church in the Plastic Bubble. Since I wrote the original article, I discovered that this is not an aberration, […]
A week ago I posted a blog entitled, Driven to Abstraction, where I shared a story of a young pastor disillusioned with his congregation after they refused to accept the presence of homeless people in their midst. Today I received an email that I know was meant to be helpful, […]
Man, what a can of worms! In two days I have received over 30 emails “helping” me to understand: the emergent movement the emerging church Emergent Village the emergent church The Emerging Church the emerging movement the Emergent Church the emerging and missional church The Missional Church emerging spirituality And […]
United Methodeviations 