By Jerry Chiles Eddie Hammett says, “A re-fashioning, and re-framing of church is happening whether we like it or not. God is moving. Will you be a part of it or a resistant force against the ‘new thing’ God is doing in our world?” David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, says in an […]
What I’m Reading These Days Read More »
by Jerry Chiles Don’t panic. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “A panic attack causes sudden, brief feelings of fear and strong physical reactions in response to ordinary, nonthreatening situations.” When we panic, we do not see any possibility of moving forward. We must begin to breathe and recognize God is present with us in the
Practical Steps Past the Pandemic Read More »
by: Rev. Dr. Rick Jordan When I discovered that Walter Lantz, the artist that created Woody Woodpecker, was not my uncle on my mother’s side of the family – something I had believed all my life – it made me wonder what other non-truths I had taken to be truths. Of course, finding that a
by Rev. Dr. Rick Jordan My mother was a Lantz. Her mother liked to paint landscapes. Her uncle, George, was the staff editorial cartoonist for the Tampa (FL) Tribune newspaper. Then, there was the celebrity artist in our family, Walter Lantz. Walter Lantz was the creator of several popular cartoons, the most well-known was the
My Cousin, Woody Woodpecker Read More »
by Dr. S. Paul Raybon In my recent E-ncourager article When People Choose Poorly, under the heading “Refuse to be Complicit,” I laid out a number of things we need to learn. Learn not to be an enabler. Learn not to engage in pointless arguments. Learn not to be tolerant of intolerable behavior and language.
By Dr. Paul Raybon Sooner or later we all grieve the loss of someone because of what we regard as their poor choices. If you live enough years and love enough people, you will endure this pain many times, and it never gets easier. There is a level of anger, resentment, and sometimes guilt, peculiar
When People Choose Poorly Read More »
While serving as an interim pastor the past two years, this role has given me many opportunities. I have had the privilege getting the church to think of new ways of doing things so that they may be open to the new pastor when they come to serve. Another objective of mine is to get
Can We Go Now? (Yes, but be careful) Read More »
In one of my former lives as a children’s minister, I had the “joy” of corralling young urchins while we waited for their parents to pick them up. Their patience was about as good as a gnat. But to keep them safe from strangers, an adult had to be there until one or both parents
by Rev. Dr. Bill Greenwood If I were starting my ministry over again, these insights percolate to the surface. Perhaps they could serve as questions that I ask myself even now – ten years into retirement from the active pastorate. Could I have focused more intentionally on the task both of being a radically committed
Looking Back to Look Forward Read More »
(Wise counsel from several retired ministers) Pastoral experiences over the decades offer us wealth of insights to share with younger ministers- especially those just starting their ministerial careers. Many of these revelations have come from the School of Hard Knocks. But each and every one of them is valuable. One of the most important matter
Tips for Young Ministers from Some of Us Who Have Been Around Read More »
