Community

From Beyond the River

Joshua 24:1-28 God comes to Abram with no apparent reason, makes a promise that God will bring forth from Abram a great nation which will be blessed so that they can be a blessing to all the world. So without any recorded hesitation, Abram goes, as God told him, to the land which God willContinue reading “From Beyond the River”

When it All Comes Together

Half-way through my sermon, I saw about one third of the congregation sleeping, another third appeared to be present in body only (somewhere else in mind), and the final third appeared to be engaged. After the service, I was told that the bathroom was out of toilet paper. It was full before the service. This,Continue reading “When it All Comes Together”

Earnestly Praying for Peace

“Pray for peace.” This is a common thing to say. I pray for peace. Mostly, however, I’ve prayed for the idea of peace, I’ve never had to actually earnestly pray for peace before. The Milwaukee area is still on edge from the massacre at the Sikh temple in one of the south suburbs. We haveContinue reading “Earnestly Praying for Peace”

Home

Recently, during a rather difficult day, my wife and I were driving back to our flat, and I looked at her and said, “I want to go home.” “We’ll be there soon,” she said. “No,” I said, “my real home.” This, of course, referred to my desire to return to Michigan, the place whence IContinue reading “Home”

The City and the Redemption of Creation

I try not to talk or write about politics very often as a normal course of my ministry. My congregation is composed of people of all political stripes, and I strongly believe that no one political ideology has a corner on the Gospel. However, something has been disturbing me as of late about the WisconsinContinue reading “The City and the Redemption of Creation”

Get up (or sit down) and eat!

As I am sure is the case with many clergy-type folks, Sunday mornings are incredibly draining for me. When I deliver a sermon, I am not just giving a lecture, or a talk. I am pouring my whole being, my whole spirit, my whole emotional self, often times my whole being into the preaching moment. Continue reading “Get up (or sit down) and eat!”

Why a Reformed Presence is Important in the City

I am a Reformed minister through-and-through, and I feel very strongly about the Reformed theology. I do not think Reformed theology is the only way of being a Christian, I simply think that it is a good way. I think that is Biblically sound, and I think that it speaks to our world in aContinue reading “Why a Reformed Presence is Important in the City”

Walking the Neighborhood

Each week, usually on a Wednesday afternoon, I go for a walk around the neighborhood. I do it for several reasons. The first of which is that it helps me to toss around the scripture text for Sunday’s sermon in my mind, and allows me to get some fresh air in the process. Secondly, itContinue reading “Walking the Neighborhood”