Choose Insanity In 2017 Howard County Maryland mailed out bumper stickers that read “Choose Civility,” as a response to behaviors emerging across the country. The other day, I saw one that read “Choose Insanity!” After I nearly wrecked my car laughing, I thought about the deep social and theological significance of these words and would […]
September 28, 2021
From the General Presbyter Survey: What percentage of Session, Deacons, Trustees, Committee meeting time is spent a. Doing business as usual b. Innovating for tomorrow c. Future forecasting – what is emerging in church and society Next: How is this “working for you?” Next: Where do current members want time spent? What about potential new […]
August 10, 2021
From the General Presbyter It has been a joy visiting congregations again in person! Our congregations have done an excellent job with their online presence yet there is something wonderful about being together. This is where the brakes screech! I’m enjoying the last of the Olympics when I hear the mayor of Baltimore requiring masks […]
July 28, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27 […]
June 25, 2021
From the General Presbyter ”…perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and this hope does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:3b-5 We have to have hope. We join in prayers with our brothers and sisters in Florida as rescue workers […]
June 9, 2021
From the General Presbyter “But I, brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.” 1 Corinthians 3: 1-2a Guidance on Regathering for the Summer There is so […]
April 22, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Russia is escalating!” “Another mass shooting!” “Members of Congress embrace Q-Anon.” “Another Black man shot by police!” “Asian hate crimes on the rise.” “When are we going to open our church?” “I don’t want the vaccine.” “Glaciers melting at a rapid rate.” ”New variants arrive in the US.” ”Supreme Court sides […]
April 7, 2021
From the General Presbyter I was driving behind a truck whose tag line was “growth through extraordinary customer service.” Oh, if it were only that simple. I believe many members of churches feel they are getting good “service” from the pastor, members, fellowship, music, education, etc. On the other hand, we don’t like to look […]
March 18, 2021
From the General Presbyter “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau I could really just stop there. I am sure you have heard about the shootings at the massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia. A man targeted three businesses and was on his way to Florida to […]
March 4, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Because in life, the question is not if you will have problems, but how you are going to deal with them. Stop failing backward and start failing forward!” John C. Maxwell Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success – April 1, 2007 I love this term – failing forward. Simply put, it […]
