A mentor pastor once gave me the valuable lesson of assigning me to listen to recordings of my own sermons. I did not want to do it. I found that I did not like the sound of my own voice on a recording, but despite the pain of listening to myself I learned a lot about delivery. I learned my voice sounds better when I properly breathe and project. I learned that in order to sound as dramatic as my thoughts, I really need to increase my vocal inflections; while I may feel like an exaggerating bad actor, the congregations perceives me as simply passionate. Continue reading From a Mirror Darkly to Face to Face
Ross Douthat’s Slippery Slope
I felt one proposition of Ross Douthat’s Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics
At the last Wesleyan General Conference (GenCon12), the North Michigan District offered a memorial (#79) to amend The Discipline, putting in a stronger statement against abortion and to actively work to protect the life of unborn children. This memorial did not come to the General Conference recommended for passage. I was not a delegate to GenCon12, but followed the proceedings as closely as I could. I admit, reading memorial #79 made me wearily remember the 1980s, when this debate seemed more fierce. Continue reading Ross Douthat’s Slippery Slope
Life Perspective from Rob Bell
On January 20, 2013 I will be installed as the lead pastor of Oakdale Wesleyan Church, and as the date approaches many thoughts have crossed my mind. Although we, the involved parties, just picked the first available Sunday in January, that date happened to fall on Inauguration Day for President Barack Obama’s second term, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. I do not place myself on the level of the first African-American president of the U.S. nor the leader of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, but I am honored to share, and find significance in sharing, their day. Continue reading Life Perspective from Rob Bell
Call to Worship: Trust
This story comes from Tim Hansel (1987). Holy Sweat. Word Books Publisher, pp. 46-47.
One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, “Hey Dad! Catch me!” I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and them yelled “Hey Dad!” I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk. Continue reading Call to Worship: Trust
Vomit, the New Christmas Miracle
Our family decided to take an evening drive on Christmas Eve in order to look at houses displayed in holiday lights. We dressed our daughter in her footed snowman pajamas, hat, and coat, while we threw on hooded sweatshirts, and into the car we went, until . . . Continue reading Vomit, the New Christmas Miracle
The Sacraments as Means of Grace part 5: Reconciliation
As my church does not hold Ash Wednesday services, my wife and I often attend Roman Catholic mass on that day. The last time we went, the priest began his sermon (not homily, this guy likes to preach!) by telling us how popular Ash Wednesday services have become. His phone had been ringing all week, from all sorts of people calling to find out service times. Some asked if they could just swing by his office and get ash on their forehead. He told them “No,” and that they would have to participate in the whole service in order to receive ash at the end. He said that Ash Wednesday services were already more well attended than Christmas, and, if the trend continued, would even surpass Easter. Despite his striking statistics, he had something even more powerful and convicting to say next. Continue reading The Sacraments as Means of Grace part 5: Reconciliation
Book Review: Bad Religion
After hearing the NPR interview “‘Heretics’: The Crisis Of American Christianity,”1 I decided to read Ross Douthat’s Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics.2 I spent all summer on the library’s waiting list for this book, not getting my turn at a library copy until Thanksgiving. Continue reading Book Review: Bad Religion
Evangelistic Memory Devices
No, I am not talking about smartphone apps, although there are a few available. Many people have come up with acrostics to help us clearly present the good news of Jesus. Just think of these as post it notes to aid memory. Here are a couple I found. Continue reading Evangelistic Memory Devices
All I Want for “Christmas” is Sermon Material
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
The Church in Black and White
I mentioned to a friend, David Drury, that I would one day like to earn my D.Min. studying a dual track of Wesleyan Practices and Black Church Studies. In response, David rightly and astutely asked me the following: Continue reading The Church in Black and White