calling
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Posted on April 3, 2012, 1:55 am
Topics: Roles, Spiritual Health
A poem by Edgar Guest reminds us that our lives are sermons, and invites us as leaders to live out our faith - as it is often more powerful to see a sermon lived out than to listen to one. "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell ..."
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Posted on March 27, 2012, 3:16 am | 9 comments
Topics: Congregation, Denomination
The role of the deacon is best utilized to prepare people to become elders. Useful as a "training ground" for future elders, the office of the deacon is the perfect place to introduce folks to council without having too much responsibility! NEWSFLASH: This isn't the truth!
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Posted on February 21, 2012, 2:19 am
Topics: Spiritual Health
As children our lives are full of opportunities - and we seem to create endlessly in all sorts of ways. As we get older our lives change, our priorities and responsibilities look different and we may find ourselves idealizing those good old days, rather than living fully now. As deacons we can encourage hope and inspire joy simply by living truly.
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Posted on October 4, 2011, 2:25 am | 1 comment
Topics: Roles
With the advent of another ministry year, it's a good time to take some time and think about what God may want to do through your team this year. In light of our call to this diaconal office, what's your vision? Oh, come on, dream bigger!
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Posted on July 22, 2011, 1:53 pm
Topics: Caring
In this article, Fuller Seminary Graduate, Janet Morel, describes her journey in ministry and motherhood with a caughter who lives with severe disabilities. "Mothering a severely disabled child all these years has been part of the context Morel brings to her life and witness. 'Just by living our lives day to day means that my husband Rob and Dana and I are able to bear witness to a hope in the future that those who don’t have faith don’t have.'"
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Posted on July 10, 2011, 10:17 pm
Topics: Roles
Have you ever had one of those days when you just want to throw in the towel and yell "ENOUGH - I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!"? Many of us have gone through that. How is it possible to continue when you feel there is nothing left to give?
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Posted on June 16, 2011, 8:09 am | 2 comments
Topics: Leadership
It’s time we talked about one of the most agonizing experiences of preparing for ministry: that of waiting for a call. Seminary graduates who are declared by synod as candidates for ministry enter into a period of searching, researching, and waiting. For a number of years they have been dreaming of serving
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Posted on June 11, 2010, 9:58 am
Topics: Serving
This question and answer addresses the question of timing. Is it best to respond immediately upon completing one's education or gain some experience (and lose some student debt) first. This is not the final word but raises some good points. Steve
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Posted on May 17, 2010, 12:29 pm
Topics: Spiritual Formation
If we believe that Jesus guides us, then we also need to listen for the call of Christ in our life.
So how does Jesus call us into service?
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Posted on February 8, 2010, 8:39 pm
Topics: Congregational Life
Gordon Atkinson is a real live preacher working in San Antonio, Texas. Not surprisingly, he has written a book by that name, which is a collection of blogs for his website named—you guessed it!—Real Live Preacher. Atkinson is nothing if not honest, but sometimes his language is what our mothers might call “salty.” Use at your own risk.
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Posted on February 2, 2010, 10:00 am | 2 comments
Topics: Youth
In 2007, I was coming to the end of my bible college existence. I was coming close to putting almost 7 years of study behind me, and was going to receive that piece of paper that says I hold a degree. In my quest of searching for what was to come next, I came upon a little CRC church in a small town. Their youth pastor position had just become vacant...
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Posted on January 12, 2010, 3:37 pm
Topics: Serving
One of our church members is sensing a call to serve God in mission. What are some next steps we as a mission committee can suggest? What sort of education is needed to become a missionary and is it important to serve under an agency? Can our denominational agencies use people of various skills?
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