A work colleague shared this Twitter thread with our team this week from Eugene Kim. It’s not an article, per se, but he does make some interesting observations about the state of today’s Church from his personal experience. The thread has provided some interesting conversations. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Where…
Remember Him (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)
As Ecclesiastes comes to an end, the Preacher transitions from his exploration of life’s absurdities to a chapter of exhortations for the reader to consider. Scholars are divided as to whether this section should be taken as an apocalyptic view on the end of all human life (Peter Enns, Iain Provan) or if it should…
Why They’re Not Coming Back to Church
Carey Nieuwhof has written a thoughtful article on post Covid attendance. In it he discusses why people are not coming back and what to do with those who have. The main takeaway surrounds the connectedness of people. Those who were connected and engaged have made their way back while those who did not have connections…
Youth is Wasted on the Young (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10)
American playwright George Bernard Shaw is generally credited as the source of this telling quotation. He wrote, “Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks.” As Ecclesiastes comes to a close, we can sense the urgency in Qoheleth’s speech as he addresses the…
Getting Unstuck
We have more options available and at our disposal today than at any time in human history. The sheer number of choices at any given time is staggering. Whether its the number of search results on your web browser or the jam packed menus offered by fast food chains, we are overwhelmed by variety, and…
New Gallup Poll on Giving, Volunteering
Here is a new Gallup Poll on Giving and Volunteering in Churches. The short version is that giving is starting to rebound toward pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, people are still reluctant to return to service and volunteering. Though vaccinations are now commonly available, the unpredictability of variants is the leading factor in volunteer…
My 2021 Reading List
Younique, by Will Mancini Changing for Good, by Prochaska, Norcross and DiClemente A Church Called Tov, by Scot McKnight Insurrection, by Peter Rollins Devotional Classics, by Richard Foster/J.B. Smith Broken Signposts, by NT Wright Full Spectrum Thinking, by Bob Johansen Spiritual Classics, by Richard Foster/Emilie Griffin Essentialism, by Greg McKeown Empire, Economics, and the New…
Neither Poverty nor Riches
This weekend I finished Neither Poverty nor Riches by Craig Blomberg. The book serves as a theological survey of Scripture regarding money and possessions. Here are Blomberg’s final five conclusions from this book which I highly recommend: Material possessions are a good gift from God meant for his people to enjoy. Material possessions are simultaneously…
Using Common Sense (Ecclesiastes 10)
The twenty verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 10 are proverbial statements that urge the reader to exercise common sense when navigating the challenges of life. While each proverb can potentially stand on its own merit, I find it somewhat helpful to see them in an organized fashion. These groupings help the individual statements by rounding out…
Why I Use a “Paper” Planner
I was introduced to Daytimer in the mid-eighties and for two and one half decades it served as my primary planning tool. My Daytimer was always as close to me as my cell phone is today, serving as my trusted companion to help me review prior days and upcoming tasks. Even with the incorporation of…
