Articles in Encouragement
A House With No Doors
Published by on July 20th 2009
Many years ago I had a dream. It was a truly awesome – Wow – dream! In the dream there was this really wonderful story going on, like a movie in my mind that was a real mystery drama. I remember as I awoke, thinking how utterly awesome the whole story had been. The mystery movie-like dream came to a fantastic surprise conclusion with all the pieces of the mystery fitting and weaving together perfectly as the story concluded and the mystery solution was revealed. Unfortunately, the only detail of the dream I could recall was the dream’s title, “A House with No Doors”.
Learning Along the Path
Published by on July 6th 2009
Life is a journey. The road of life has peaks and valleys…joy and pain. It is important as we go through this journey that we never forget where we have been.
I found a post that I wrote during a “valley” moment of my life not that long ago. I’d like to share it…
More of Jesus
Published by on July 3rd 2009
The last few years there has been booming interest surrounding ministry effectiveness. Willow Creek’s Reveal study may not have been the first expression of this pastoral angst, but it was certainly the Shot Heard ‘Round the Church.
The Bus Contingency
Published by on June 19th 2009
I have been involved with a couple of organizations over the years where the following unpleasant question gets pondered aloud, “If (our senior leader) gets hit by a bus, what are we going to do?” Yes, it is a downer, but it’s also very pointed. Has your leader transferred enough of himself for your organization to carry on? Or how about this: have your transferred your Christian walk to another so that he or she can make disciples?
What is Our Purpose of Life?
Published by on June 15th 2009
I’m reading a great book called, “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus” by Spangler and Tverberg. It made me rethink something I knew but had lost perspective of. The book relates the mindset and thinking of the people who actually walked with Jesus. To understand what Christ meant by what He said, one needs to understand the thinking and cultural and historical influences of the times in which Jesus walked the Earth.
Routine or Rut
Published by on April 27th 2009
When I practiced dentistry my staff and I took our lunch break from 1pm to 2pm. I started at 8am, worked five hours, had lunch and came back for three more hours. It made for a long first half, but I really liked the short, three hour second half. It made the whole day pass by more quickly. This had been my routine for years and it worked well. We got the biggest part of the day behind us first when we were rested and fresh. Plus, we avoided the normal noon meal rush at the restaurants and noon traffic on the roads.
because they matter
Published by on April 17th 2009
This weekend, I will be serving as a counselor at a student retreat at my church. The retreat is for middle and high school girls. As we’ve prepared, I’ve had visions running through my head . . .
Lose Weight! Stop Dieting! Start Living!
Published by on February 23rd 2009
I noticed a Weight Watcher’s ad declaring “Lose weight! Stop dieting! Start living! It’s that time of year, isn’t it? So much money, thought and time spent on how we look on the outside. Just lose weight, buy this make-up, own this car, wear these shoes, dress this way, purchase this exercise program and on and on go the claims for a better and happier life. All are external, outside changes; superficial and temporary. None are able to significantly or permanently change a life for the better.
