Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. — Henri Nouwen
Tag: Advent
The darkness of Advent and communal lament
“Unlike American Christianity, the Bible is not individualistic, but thoroughly social in its orientation. When the Church groans with Isaiah, ‘Thou hast hid they face far from us,’ it speaks as a corporate body with a common lot. If one suffers, all suffer.” — Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Christ
Why Pentecostals Should Observe Advent
I am a slow learner. Over the past decade I have worked to understand the liturgical year more and incorporate key elements into my Pentecostal ministry. I am still learning. (The upside of that is I will probably die while I’m still learning something.)
Continue reading “Why Pentecostals Should Observe Advent”Advent and the anticipation
“Our lives are eschatologically stretched between the sneak preview of the new world being born among us in the church, and the old world where the principalities and powers are reluctant to give way. In the meantime, which is the only time the church has ever known, we live as those who know something about the fate of the world that the world does not yet know. And that makes us different.” — Will Willimon, Conversion in the Wesleyan Tradition
Christmas Eve — Tuning our hearts
It’s my last Christmas Eve service at Heights Church serving as pastor.
It took me over 19 years of preaching to finally get a message where the points play off of a word! My penultimate message and I FINALLY get something together using one word! Continue reading “Christmas Eve — Tuning our hearts”
Advent Reading — The Open Door He Sets Before Us
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. — Rev. 3:8, NIV Continue reading “Advent Reading — The Open Door He Sets Before Us”
Advent Reading — He is our strong deliverer
The Sunday we announced our resignation as pastors of Heights Church, the Lord had me share from Acts 16 when Paul came to Troas. He had been trying to get into new territory to preach the gospel and a couple of times the Spirit kept him from heading in particular directions. Finally, he came to Troas and it was there the Lord showed him what was next. Continue reading “Advent Reading — He is our strong deliverer”
