A thought-provoking discussion of retirement that I came across had some amazing statistics: Studies show that retirement is no good for you. Even if you hate the job you go to every day, sudden abrupt inactivity is a bad idea. A working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research entitled “The Effects of Retirement … Continue reading »
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Catalyst West Coast 2009 (More)
There were a number of great talks over the two days of the Catalyst Conference, but in some ways the first was the best. (For me as a pastor. Another talk was the best for me as a follower of Christ; I’ll write about that in a few days.) The talk was by Andy Stanley, … Continue reading »
Catalyst West Coast 2009 (More)
There was a great slate of speakers at the conference, including some “big names” like Rick Warren and Andy Stanley and Ravi Zacharias. There was also a great presentation by Erwin McManus (whose book Unstoppable Force we just studied in the Wednesday class). But one of the most impressive speakers was someone I’d never heard … Continue reading »
Catalyst West Coast 2009
This is the first year that Catalyst has had a west-coast event. I’m glad I went. That’s the worship (or, Presbyterians would say, the “worship music”). The band is Hillsong United, from Australia.
In Time for Holy Week: Apostasy!
C.S. Lewis somewhere decries ministers who desert their faith but feel they should be left to “carry on” in their office in the church. Here’s a case in point: an Episcopal Muslim: “Both religions say there’s only one God,” Redding said, “and that God is the same God. It’s very clear we are talking about … Continue reading »
08B Update
Unofficially, the vote at Presbytery today on Amendment 08B was 42/53/2. That is to say, 42 in favor, 53 against, and 2 recommending no action.
08B Comments
Here’s what I said at Presbytery today. When I began the process of discerning my call to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, the leaders of my church encouraged me to participate in a discernment group. So one evening I sad down with a group of people to discuss with me, in detail, all the … Continue reading »
Dry Bones
I don’t know how many of you have seen the movie Star Wars. I have. I’ve seen it dozens of times, and all its sequels and the more recent prequels. You could fairly say I’m a Star Wars fanboy — and I’ve done what I could to make sure my kids are too. I know … Continue reading »
How Can I Help?
“Pastor, what can I do?” People ask me that question a lot. But most of the time, they’re not asking it in a spiritual sense. They’re not asking for advice about a personal problem facing them. Most of the time, people ask me that to find out how they can help out in the church. … Continue reading »
Hezekiah: the Greatest King
For the king .. had taken counsel to keep the passover in the second month. –2 Chronicles 30:2 Everybody’s heard of King David, but how many remember King Hezekiah? He ruled over Judah, the southern part of what had been a united kingdom under David. After David’s son Solomon died, the northern part of the … Continue reading »