I don’t think I had ever paid attention to this hymn before, When the Church of Jesus. You know, it’s in the back of the hymnal–one of those newer ones. Actually, it’s under the heading of “Called to God’s Mission.” If you pay attention, you’ll see what a convicting truth that is. When the Church of Jesus Shuts its outer door, Lest the roar of traffic Drown the voice of prayer: May our prayers, Lord,…..
Leave it to me to wait until the absolute latest to participate in a mandatory clergy sexual ethics training. It wouldn’t have mattered what the training would have been; I still probably would have been one of the last ones. At least there were about 20 others in my boat. I don’t know what you think a training about clergy sexual ethics includes, but I’ve been to a few and I was sure I knew……
Churches are dying. The Christian faith is dying. At least that’s what the reports indicate. It reminds me of the reports the “spies” came back with when they first explored the land God had promised the Israelites. In the book of Numbers, a group goes to discover this new land. Oh, it’s nice alright, but it’s full of giant, dangerous people. We’ll never be able to go there! The group said that and I’m sure…..
Our youth group hosts a taco breakfast every Sunday morning in order to raise money for summer camp. They attend camp in Sacramento, NM. It had been a while that I noticed a slump in attendance at the breakfast. Consequently, the amount of money they raised every week decreased, too. After they would work all morning, they would come to Sunday School and I would ask them how much they made. Disappointed, they would tell me…..
Playing Church When you play church eventually you stop playing Then what happens to the holy church you were playing Stay blessed…john