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Gnoshies, Chachkies, and S.W.A.G.
Obviously, we all say words we don’t intend or know to be offensive. The same words have different meanings to different people. Sometimes we aren’t even aware the words we use are hurtful, insulting or wrong. We may not understand why a particular word has become offensive. But, when we…
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Sermon Preparation
So, preachers, raise the standard of your preaching! How? My advice is planning and preparation. You may not like MY process. But, you do need a process. Plan as far ahead as you possibly can. Take time – big chunks of time – to study and prepare. Yes, your spiritual…
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You will see me…
Though I certainly don’t wish you suffering or pain, both are realities we all face and endure at some point in our lives. If that day is today, if this is your season of suffering, may you find some comfort and direction in these words. More – may you find…
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Recalibrating Your Soul
Whether or not you’ve found a time, place or activity that uniquely settles your heart and soul, I think we all need it. I know we do. It’s just so easy to get out of whack. Just like a motorcycle engine operates at an ideal speed and RPMs, but may…
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Blogging silence, hard questions, passive aggression, and the Jesus-litmus test
Though I’m wrestling with loads of hard questions (for me) these days, I don’t claim to have many answers. Though I don’t claim to be absolutely “right” about much of anything, I’m increasingly convinced that we are wrong about MANY things. The litmus test for me is Jesus…
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Spiritual Insanity
What if reality includes both the visible and invisible, spiritual and material? What if ignoring or denying unseen spiritual realities is actually insane – a complete distortion of reality? And, what if, most of us – including believers – spend most of our lives completely out-of touch and out-of-sync with…
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Let it rain
My particular brand of Christianity is Methodist. One of my favorite things about Methodism is our belief that, following conversion, God begins a new work in us, growing us toward full maturity in Christ. We believe, with God’s help and our active participation, we will become like Jesus.
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Spirituality, Calling, and Ministry
I’ve recently realized, more clearly, that my spirituality, my calling, and my ministry are three distinctly different things. Though they’re interrelated, and overlap, they’re not same. My spirituality is not dependent on my calling, or my ministry. My calling, though important, is only one aspect of my spirituality. And, my…
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A Tale of Two Leather Jackets
One day, I stopped at a large garage sale. It was quickly apparent that a group of adult children were helping their elderly mother “down-size,” by selling loads of the house’s contents. Among the items for sale, I noticed several racks of men’s clothing, which I immediately assumed might have…
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Unpredictable paths…
I increasingly believe that every choice we make – every step we choose on our journeys (including choices ignorantly made) – have a lot to do with what steps will follow.
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