On Writing Songs
Christians like to sing. Among God’s people there are gifted song writers who favored us with the fruit of their hard work. We sing when we have needs and we sing when we have abundance.
Christians like to sing. Among God’s people there are gifted song writers who favored us with the fruit of their hard work. We sing when we have needs and we sing when we have abundance.
Last month I promised I would do my share of the grocery shopping.The experience was a bit unnerving. I observed people whose lives are not easy.
Prejudice has a long shelf life. Chances are that you (and I) keep prejudice neatly tucked away under the cover of noble virtues, traditions or plain thoughtlessness.
Even through times of deep depression, his ministry remained directed toward helping people in their struggles, encouraging them not to lose faith in God.
Change requires careful observation and preparation. Once you agreed on a certain program that necessitates the change, have you consistently backed the members who have been put in charge of it?
“All my pastoral work consisted to spelling out the gospel orally to anyone who would listen. And since an awful lot of talking went on among us, the gospel spread rapidly.”
2014 has come to an end. Though the days were busy, thoughts multiplied. And so we think...we ponder. Who are we? How shall we live?
Sometimes I wish I had an in with God in such a way that I could read how He feels about me.
When the angel left, Mary was alone. To be alone…To have a burden and be alone…Mary pondered the message of the angel. She needed to talk with someone. Then she thought of her cousin Elizabeth...
Youth is not always a time of innocence. Sins of our youth can be real. They can cling to us through subsequent years...
It is probably true that we, as denomination, are overwhelmingly family-oriented. The question may be asked: are singles sufficiently recognized and do they share realistically in pastoral care?
We thank God for whatever prosperity we may have. Compared to the Christians of Rome, we are rich people. But we all realize that it may not stay that way. Times of want may lie ahead.
As an elder, you cannot be expected to be an expert in this complex area of drug use. But chances are considerable that there are some addicted people in your district.
It's the same for all ages: we want to be liked. We are not proud of trying to look good. Still, the approval of people around us has its lure.
The Apostle Paul was all in favor of hospitality. But his reasons for urging believers to be hospitable were visionary. He uses Romans 12 to tell people how to express it in their daily lives.
Paul, the apostle wrote: “Weep with those who weep.” We may assume that he did what he wrote. Look at that short sentence again. It's more than advice. Paul extends a challenge to us.
I will have the privilege of talking with my younger colleagues. I will remind myself that these are not easy times for our ministers, that they are struggling with plenty of problems of which we didn’t know much in “my day”.
All believers have one gift in common: grace! It is the source of the other seven Christian gifts.
The church is not a group of people who decide to band together. It has a divine origin and important purpose.
The great reformer, Martin Luther, was a man of towering conviction. But he also knew moments when faith seemed to have faded to a degree that there seemed nothing left.
Bereaved people need strength to cope with irretrievable loss. Perhaps we can start a discussion on these pages of our experiences in bringing Christian comfort.
What happens to our many young members-at-large?
The name: "Censura Morum." The name and practice have a nobler origin than it would appear...
For you to do your work as a care-giver you need a record-keeping system. In case you don't have one yet, here are some hints.