A Determined Heart

Posted on March 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

“Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

This verse first jumped out at me while in college. I underlined it in my devotional reading (A habit I still employ) and used it to teach children’s church (I still apply my  sermons to children- and to immature adults). It has been meaningful to me and perhaps you will find it to be that for you.

Note that Ezra “determined in his heart” to do three things. That is, these are the commitments that Ezra made and actions he vowed to take. Perhaps you might make the same determination in  your heart.

First, Ezra determined Continue reading →

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Posted in bible, bible study, prayer, small groups, Sunday School, teaching, theology, Uncategorized

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Less Whining, More Praying

Posted on March 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

It is a simple goal boiled down to a sound bite. Simple, but profound. “Less whining, more praying.”

I want my future to have less and more. I want less whining, less complaining and less caterwauling. I want less grumpiness, irritability and fussiness. But, I want my future to have more and more of one thing: prayer.

Here are three reasons to join me in this goal.

–Praying is more Christlike than whining. We are not very Christlike when we whine. Complaining is not a spiritual gift. (I just checked again. It isn’t in the list of spiritual gifts. Really, I checked this quite thoroughly!) Continue reading →

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Posted in faith, prayer, Uncategorized

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Old Pastors and Those Who Will Be

Posted on February 23, 2017 | Leave a comment

I saw an old pastor friend recently. I don’t know exactly when you should start calling a pastor “old” but he was well past his 80th birthday, so I guess he qualifies. He retired from the full-time pastorate some years ago due to health but remains busy as an interim pastor and preaches frequently in those in between times. And he is doing great work for the kingdom.

I want to suggest that our old pastors have great value for our generation. And, I suggest that our younger pastors would do well to get to know, love and appreciate some older pastors–before they get there themselves!

Here are some reasons young ministers- and the church as a whole- should value our older ministers and Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, minister, pastor, perseverance, Uncategorized

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Learning from the Past

Posted on January 30, 2017 | Leave a comment

Our church just recognized our sesquicentennial. That is a dandy of a word that means we were formed 150 years ago. By the standards of Europe it isn’t so much, but Illinois isn’t Europe. So, a sesquicentennial (that really is a dandy of a word!) is not as common here.

150 years ago, First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, IL was formed at what was then just a small railroad stop. Over the years we have had some ups and downs. The church nearly closed in 1973. But for the last 40 plus years the church has grown steadily and has become a rather large congregation.

We aren’t perfect as we are made up of people. We have had imperfect leaders as they, too, have been people. But God has had his hand on this congregation and has blessed the church in ways that are difficult to explain apart from God.

Since I’ve been more immersed in our history than usual, I want to reflect on some lessons we have learned Continue reading →

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Why I Have a Patriotic Worship Service

Posted on January 6, 2017 | 3 comments

I posted this article last winter but wanted to re-post it for this season. Hope you have a great 4th of July holiday!

 

I love the patriotic worship service our church has each 4th of July Sunday. I would not have thought that to be a controversial statement a few years ago but some theologs suggest this to be a bad thing. I hear them out, but disagree. In fact, some seem to have a wrong idea about what goes on at these events. So, right in the dead of winter, when picnics seem distant, let me suggest some food for thought (that picnic thing got me food focused).

What we don’t do.

We don’t worship our country. We have only Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, Church, military, Uncategorized, worship

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Servant Leadership

Posted on January 3, 2017 | 5 comments

Dictators make poor role models for Christian leadership. Oh, they get things done. Their orders get followed– or else. But they are not the example for what God wants for pastors, teachers, parents or any others who aspire to lead like Jesus.

The cautionary story of Rehoboam in I Kings 12 serves as a reminder that dictatorship is a poor replacement for true servant leadership. Remember the advice given him by his wisest, most experienced counselors? “If you will Continue reading →

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Posted in leadership, servant leadership, Christian leadership, Uncategorized

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The Best And Worst of Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2016 | Leave a comment

My favorite opening line to a novel is “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” (Followed closely by, “It was a dark and stormy night.”) Christmas can be the best and worst of times.

We see the greatest examples of generosity at Christmas and terrible, soul-stifling stinginess.

We see acts of forgiveness and deeply rooted bitterness at slights of years gone by.

Christmastime leads to great joy and happiness and fits of road rage and public meltdowns.

Many people celebrate Continue reading →

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Posted in faith, joy, Uncategorized

Transformational Preaching

Posted on November 16, 2016 | 2 comments

Preaching is, for me, like swimming in the ocean. It is an awesome experience if you don’t die!

Nothing is more exciting and nothing is more intimidating. Preaching both charges me up and wears me down. It invigorates and it frustrates. It brings me the agony of labor and the joy of birth. It keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning. Preaching is big and I know it.

If you are involved in preaching you know something of the dilemma we face. We are tasked with bringing God’s word to man. We are to speak sacred things to sinful listeners. This great responsibility can be a bit overwhelming. But here is what makes it even bigger. We need to preach for transformation.

Nothing is worse than boring people with the greatest news known to mankind. How terrible to think that I can make the gospel sound like average news rather than good news. How Continue reading →

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Posted in preaching, Uncategorized

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Inevitable Inevitability

Posted on October 25, 2016 | Leave a comment

Good words from my great wife!

Vickie Munton's avatarwateringcanblog

The clock keeps ticking.

The sun comes up.

The alarm goes off.

And I’m getting older.

It is an inevitable inevitability.

And the alternative–well, it’s already decided.

I know where I’ve been and I can only imagine what tomorrow might bring.

And I need to embrace it.

Some things we have control over, others we don’t.

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Bring Your Wounds to Jesus

Posted on September 28, 2016 | Leave a comment

We are all wounded to some extent. We are wounded by living in this sinful and fallen world. We are wounded by the sins of others. We even carry wounds as a result of our own sins. All of carry scars, all of us know pain and all of us need healing. All of us. Your pastor, your parents, your spouse, your neighbors? All of them are wounded too.
The question is not really Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, spiritual healing, Uncategorized

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