Archive for October, 2010

Jesus. Period. That was the heart-cry of a youth movement started over a decade ago by Andy Gilbert, youth pastor at Faith Center in Eugene Oregon. I like it. No, actually, I love it. I long to stop complicating everything and return to simple obedience and simple devotion to Jesus. […]

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I’ve long-believed the health care system in the United States was broken. When there was some talk and hope of honest bipartisan work to be done on this issue, I actually got a little excited. I’m a pastor who serves people from every rung of the socio-economic ladder; you can’t […]

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Well, I mostly stopped watching TV. A few months back we had to move into a new house, and in assessing our budget we realized that the cable bill had to go. So we decided to make due with a digital over-the-air antenna (to get the networks) and an older […]

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In Paul’s first recorded sermon (Acts 13) he talked about David. Among some of the other things he says about Israel’s king, there is this: “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep” (vs. 36) Every time I read that, I’m reminded that everyone […]

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A big religion headline last week involved the Crystal Cathedral declaring bankruptcy. This was, at one time, the mother of all mega-churches and was probably more well known, in it’s day, than Lakewood Church, Willow Creek, and Saddleback are today. The pastor and his church built an empire. If you visit […]

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I’m about ready to head into a yearly study break. I take a few days, usually with a few friends who are also pastors, and spend much of the time stopping—listening; reflecting; praying; writing; planning. The pastors who are there occasionally connect and share what we feel God has been […]

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Quick, anyone know where the title of this blog post comes from? The Sheriff of Nottingham says it to Friar Tuck in the classic animated film, Robin Hood. “Save your sermon, preacher, it ain’t Sunday you know!” Recently when my kids were watching the movie, I heard that line and […]

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I’m sitting here with rapt attention watching the Chilean miners finally get rescued. This is an excruciatingly slow process. One by one, the capsule is lowered and then a single man is brought up who has been trapped for nearly 70 days. When the first guy was brought up, there […]

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When my kids start whining or complaining I usually tell them to “cut it out.” “That’s not the way we get things.” “You are not changing your situation by complaining about it.” My hope and expectation is that I’ll raise kids who will take responsibility for their own actions, who […]

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Psalm 131: A song of ascents. Of David. 1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, […]

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For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the […]

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For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the […]

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For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the […]

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For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the […]

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For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the […]

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