Anyone else out there have daughters? My daughter, Sophia, is a month away from being 3-years-old. Here was our conversation yesterday, and I should let you know we have three pregnant ladies in our church right now.
Sophia: I have a baby in my tummy.
Dad: You don’t have a baby in your tummy.
Sophia: Yes I do have a baby in my tummy.
Dad [thinking fast]: Only mommies can have babies in their tummies. When you get bigger, and marry a daddy, then you can have a baby in your tummy.
Sophia: Okay.
Dad: [Whew] Continue reading A Baby in My Tummy →
I have begun working on my preaching calendar for 2013, and find myself thankful for the instruction I received at Wesley Seminary regarding the Church Calendar/Seasons. While I am not binding myself to the Lectionary, I hope to avoid ever feeling like I am running out of material.
Continue reading All I Want for “Christmas” is Sermon Material →
Greek mythology is full of stories where the various gods leave Olympus and go slumming around with mere mortals. Despite their great powers, life on Mount Olympus apparently lacks fulfillment (usually sexual fulfillment), so the gods come to earth, to make and test heroes, and interfere in affairs of households and wars. One could argue that the Greek gods spend more of their time on earth than on Mount Olympus; life on earth must seem pretty good to them. Continue reading Call to Worship: Fourth Sunday of Advent →
I am eagerly awaiting the release of Peter Jackson’s screen adaptations of The Hobbit (An Unexpected Journey and There and Back Again). I read Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Blog and Sir Ian McKellen’s Hobbit Blog not as spoilers, especially since I have already read the book, but to whet my appetite for a couple of movies I believe will be exceptional. Continue reading Call to Worship: Third Sunday of Advent →
As a teen, I worked at a Christian bookstore. Occasionally, a few of us would get a bit lazy with the dress code, and would need a reminder from the manager. Since I usually worked at the end of the week, my friends would get spoken to on Monday, and then the manager would call me to the office when I came in on Wednesday. The conversation would always go like this. “Paul, I want to talk to you about . . . oh . . . never mind.” Continue reading Call to Worship: Second Sunday of Advent →
I have always enjoyed the days building up to Christmas, but my outlook has changed since I have grown up. As a child, I looked forward to Christmas morning, when I could open all my presents. As an adult, I am more likely to purchase items for myself when I need them, or they are on sale, rather than wait for a special occasion, such as Christmas or my birthday, when I might receive them as a gift (to the frustration of my wife). Continue reading Call to Worship: First Sunday of Advent →
Thoughts on Personal and Corporate Spiritual Formation
Sophia: I have a baby in my tummy.