When I first moved to Keokuk, my brother-in-law (who grew up on a farm outside Ottumwa) bought me a Carhartt work coat and a John Deere stocking cap. I know he’ll be glad to hear my transformation into a true resident of S.E. Iowa is now complete. As of today, I am the proud owner…
Something I have always loved about church is that it’s a place where all generations gather together. On a Sunday morning, it isn’t unusual to have people from 1 week to 101 years old in the same service. At church, older adults, youth and young children interact in so many beautiful ways. Living in a…
The story goes that many years ago two men were working in a railroad yard swinging sledgehammers. They stopped a moment to notice a train moving slowly through the yard. The engine stopped and a man in a suit stuck his head out the window and said, “Charlie, is that you?” One of the workers…
When I was in seminary, I had a professor of practical ministry named Loren Broadus who had written a book called, “How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Living.” It was required reading for first year seminary students. Loren Broadus did his best to impress on me and my classmates how important it is to be…
I read recently that nine out of ten people who attempt suicide and survive will not go on to die by suicide at a later date. Apparently, coming that close to losing everything reminds a person of exactly how precious life is. Indeed, almost everyone I’ve ever known who has had a brush with death…
Years ago, I remember reading about a guy in California who was so bored he sat down in a lawn chair with a case of beer, pellet gun, CB radio, altimeter, and then had a friend attach 40 large, helium filled weather balloons. At 15,000 feet he floated into the flight path of the L.A.…
The first of September is always an exciting time at First Christian Church! For one, we are just coming down from the high of Disciples Together Worship. A little more than a week ago, we had 414 people from all four of our worship services make the trek to Rand Park for a beautiful day…
I’m always a little anxious about doing something out of the ordinary at church – like picking up four completely different worship services and combining them together outdoors in a park! Not only are there often logistical and technological challenges, but it can be disconcerting for people who are used to doing the same thing…
This past Sunday, we began a two-week sermon series called “The Power of 12 Revisited” exploring Romans 12. Last fall, we kicked off the year with a similar series on 1 Corinthians 12. In both of these chapters, Paul addresses the importance of believers working together in love in the body of Christ. It seems providential that both of these chapters lifting up…
As I write this week’s column, the General Assembly of the Christian Church is already well underway. I’ve had the opportunity to attend amazing worship services and challenging workshops. Something I’m hearing over and over again is that we can no longer afford to wait in our buildings for people to come to us. In the same way Jesus and his disciples…