'Jesus' Tagged Posts
Michael Wittmer
Michael Wittmer’s 2015 book asks a question that is dear to my heart as a millennial pastor who grew up middle class with plenty of accouterments: Can you serve Jesus and still enjoy your life? I may be a Calvinist but even I still think the answer not only needs to be but is YES. Here’s the thing, I spent a time outside the faith, a time when I snidely looked down on those foolish enough to believe the faith…
Hidden Crosses
For a couple of years on and off I have been swimming and trying my best to repeat simple mantras as I do so. I’ve done lap after lap focusing on that ancient line Lord Jesus Christ Have Mercy on Me or some other short easy to repeat prayer or verse. Despite my best intentions, I spend most the time counting 1-2-3 breathe-1-2-3-breathe, and getting lost in the pure blissful cadence of breathing made intentional. Sometimes, however, I manage to…
Love Worth Giving. Living in the Overflow of God’s Love – Max Lucado 2002
A Love Worth Giving. Living in the overflow of God’s Love. Max Lucado. 2002. Here is another book that was left behind by my predecessor here at St. Andrew’s (can you tell I’ve about used up my book allowance for the year?). This book again just proves how far behind I am on my reading. Other than very short pieces I have never even read Max Lucado, call me busy I guess. This book is still available and for that…
The Hallmark Card (red shorts) vs The Preacher (black shorts, with a white band)
Perhaps it’s my age. Perhaps it’s the age I grew up in, or the households and locations of my youth, but I have been thinking lately that Hallmark cards (and maybe the most clever bumper sticker people) have made my life as a minister much more difficult than it otherwise needs to be. Hallmark, you see, has made a business of turning profoundly meaningful statements into something akin to kitsch. Like I said, it might only be me, but I…