I discovered Page CXVI shortly after their first Hymns album was released. I think I listened to that album non-stop for a couple weeks. As most of you know, I didn’t grow up singing hymns and I’ve never much enjoyed them when I have sang them in church. But I do love hymns that bring…
All posts in church
What Evangelicals Can Learn From the Eastern Orthodox
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend some time at an Eastern Orthodox church (Saint Nicklaus Church, yes the guy known as Santa Clause) in SW Portland with my World Religions class. Having grown up within the evangelical church I had not spent much time with other Christians outside of that circle,…
So You Want to Be a Mentor?
Yesterday the interim teaching pastor at my church, Jay Barber, gave a message on mentoring. Spiritual mentoring is one of four key values my church has identified as important in a person’s spiritual growth. For the last year and a half I’ve been on what we’ve called the “Mentor Team” assisting staff and volunteers as…
A Church Disagreement
In Acts 15 we learn about what is called a “sharp disagreement” in the NIV translation. Here’s a bigger chunk of that story in Acts 15:36-41, Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see…
The Greatest Problem With Millennial Christians
The greatest problem with millennial Christians is our incessant desire to compartmentalize our lives. When we’re at church, we become our good Christian self. When we’re at school, we become our smart and intellectual self. When it’s the weekend, we become our fun-loving, have a good time self. And rarely do any of these personalities…
The Changing Faces of Church Leadership
Recently one of my bosses was asked to speak at my church’s elder meeting on his vision for the ministry he helps lead. I’ve been at my church 4 years now and I think he’s been asked to do something similar at least four other times. Between elder roles which change every 1 to 3…