Browsing
Faithful Living: A Biblical Ethic of Financial Stewardship
Financial stewardship is not only a matter of faithful giving but of faithful living. In response to the gospel, we submit our lives to the rule of God, to the lordship of Christ, and to the direction of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be the people God wants us to be and have the lives God wants us to have.
What I Learned on My Sabbatical
When Pastor Jim Ortberg, editor-at-large of Leadership Journal, went on a seven-week sabbatical, he got a lot more than just some rest and relaxation. He learned a lesson on how to live. His advice speaks to all pastors and people of God. (Photo “Reflections in a Coffee Cup” by Gunjan Karun used by Creative Commons […]
Travels with Charlie
‘It’s Personal’ Blog My spiritual life has recently been invigorated by a Springer Spaniel with an inquisitive mind, a super-sensitive nose and unwavering insistence. Charlie is a new addition to the household, and has daily needs that I must help him fulfill, lest my carpet and hardwood floors suffer the consequences. Charlie must be walked […]
Are You Spiritually Fit?
‘IT’S PERSONAL’ Blog Catching her breath at the treadmill next to me, the woman in the pink tee shirt asked how long before she would see “results.†It was her first workout, she explained, and she was excited. Like a lot of people who come to the fitness room at the local YWCA, she was […]
Thirsting for God
‘IT’S PERSONAL’ Blog For about four long weeks, during the hottest part of a hot summer, rain avoided Adams County in south-central Pennsylvania, where I live. The broiling sun toasted our lawns brown and turned the blades of grass brittle and spiky. The lush green of the trees dulled and the branches and stems drooped. […]
Preaching what we don’t Practice?
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 22, 2010
Lectionary Reflection
Are you bound in your preaching and teaching by a lack of consistent practice or by the cares of your parish and the world? This week’s texts invite us to be healed, to delight in God, and to rejoice.
Slow-Cooker Spirituality
IT’S PERSONAL Blog When I lived in in Chicago, my neighbors cooked real barbecue. Not the “sloppy joes†that passes for “barbecue†in Pennsylvania (where I live), or the 15-minutes-on-the grill treatment that most of us do at backyard cookouts. I’m talking about nice cuts of meat barbecued s-l-o-w-l-y to tasty perfection. An African American […]
Vacation Daze
‘IT’S PERSONAL’ BLOG Do you get enough vacation time to relax and refresh yourself? Just an hour ago I arrived home from the airport after a glorious vacation, so the memories are still fresh. The weather was great, as were the sights. We visited an art museum, saw some great live music, ate some delicious […]
SNAP to it Food Stamp Challenge–Day 14
‘Just Living’ Blog
Today our bloggers focuses on gratitude and counts blessings instead of sheep.
How to Stay Spiritually Healthy
‘IT’S PERSONAL’Â BLOG How are you meeting your spiritual needs? How are you nourishing your soul? As a pastor I ask these questions a lot, but especially to folks who seem stressed out, overly busy, burdened by everyday problems, or who seem to be drifting away from church. They are also good questions to keep […]