July 9, 2020
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What About Isaac?
Teaching this story to my students helped me attempt to see the story of Abraham's obedience from his son's point of view. Why did he stay so close to Rebekah? Why did he prefer Esau over Jacob?
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July 9, 2020
76
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A First Step for Making the Missional Shift
How do churches move from a consumer to a missionary mentality? This missional shift is far from easy and will take a long time, but here's one important first step.
July 8, 2020
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Faith Formation and Puppies
As you do life with your kids, have those conversations about life and love and work and puppies. Let God steer your words and let your kids ask the hard questions as well as the easy and funny ones.
July 8, 2020
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Your Lament Sermon Was Great, A Therapy Session Might Be Even Better
Dear Pastor, in this moment of widespread loss and grief, could an hour of you talking honestly with your therapist help your congregation more than an hour of you refining your sermon on lament?
July 7, 2020
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Grace Pools Up in the Lowest Places
It’s the low places where the water flows and we meet God’s grace.
July 7, 2020
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The Complaint and COVID: Just a Value Trying to Find a Voice
Wise leaders understand that complaints are often values statements in disguise.
July 7, 2020
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When Your Summer Mission Trip Is Cancelled
While you can’t replace the opportunity to serve, here are a few ideas to connect your youth with ministry in another city, culture, or country.
July 7, 2020
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A Stranger Barged In
Do we share our love easily with someone different from us? We pride ourselves on maintaining a status quo of acceptable friends, but what about others in various difficult situations?
July 7, 2020
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The God Who Heals
All around us and within us are the bitter waters of human sin and misery. Many people today still complain to human leadership. But we must remember the One who hears and heals.
July 7, 2020
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From a Garden to a City: Looking Forward With Hope
Often, we make the mistake of looking back for hope instead of forward. In pain, we long for a garden when God has promised us a city.
July 6, 2020
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Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
This is a story I made up based on the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15) after I heard a song on the radio “What If I Gave All."
July 6, 2020
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On Turning 60
My mom told me when I was a teenager that doctors weren’t at all sure what my future held, probably early-onset arthritis, premature aging, perhaps an early death.
July 6, 2020
60
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Loving Extravagantly
Like Simon, perhaps our careful observances of rule and decorum lead to pride that keeps us from acknowledging the fact that all that we have is a gift.
July 6, 2020
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Labels Matter
What can we learn about each other when we look beyond the surface?
July 6, 2020
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Sitting Down With Author Amy Julia Becker
White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege, by author Amy Julia Becker, is a must-read today as we look at the topics of race, disability, and privilege.
July 6, 2020
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Who Is Muhammad in Islam? Prophet, Priest, or King?
In Christianity, if we want to describe Jesus, we use the words prophet, priest, and king to describe who he is, what he did, and what he continues to do. In this article, I will use those three terms to describe the person of Muhammad from Islamic sources.
July 2, 2020
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Terry DeYoung Receives Henri Nouwen Award
Disability Concerns Ministry congratulates Terry DeYoung, coordinator of the Disability Concerns ministry for the RCA, on receiving the 2020 Henri Nouwen Award.
July 1, 2020
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Where Are You Lord?
Our personal trials are meant to draw us closer to God and His Word as our faith is grown with new, or renewed, strength and wisdom.
June 30, 2020
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Courage to Open Our Eyes
I honestly have no idea how Lewis Smedes’ memoir My God and I made its way to my bookshelf. I was about to put it on the donate pile but figured I’d read it first. I’m so glad I did.
June 29, 2020
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S.O.S. Part 2: My Journey of Recognizing, Remembering, and Processing Abuse
This story is part of Safe Church Ministry's SOS series. In this post, an anonymous CRC congregant shares his second blog of his journey of recognizing, remembering, and processing the abuse he endured.
June 29, 2020
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A Thought on the Age of Apostasy
While experiencing the crisis of COVID-19, I felt the preciousness and the necessity of true worship.
June 26, 2020
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S.O.S. Triggered Tuesday
My friend recently wrote this blog post and I thought this experience from her life may help us all understand more about living with trauma and the importance of boundaries.
June 25, 2020
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Seeking Justice AND Praying
Do both your lifestyle and your prayers join the Spirit in seeking justice and shalom for others?
June 24, 2020
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When Helping Hurts and Listening Helps
The book When Helping Hurts has changed the way mission agencies do ministry. But are its steps to authentic transformation relevant elsewhere, and especially when applied to racism?
June 24, 2020
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Chaplaincy and Care Director's Note June 2020
Chaplains, thank you for your ministry of bringing Jesus to people during this difficult time in our world.