December 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 47To the Saints,
In the darkened infirmary, the cancer patient, battling a fever as he recovered from surgery, listened as Dr. Kornfeld told his story of conversion from Judaism to Christianity and of his new perspective on suffering. The doctor’s story had shaken the patient. That night, the doctor was savagely assaulted and died of […]
November 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 46 To the Saints:
And when Jesus came to the ruler’s houseand saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.(Matt. 9:23-24 ESV)
Cynicism is thefuneral dirge of a dead or dying faith. Cynicism is our outward response when we’ve […]
October 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 45
Dear Friends,
Recently our community group did our once monthly service at a local nursing home. After we finished, one resident, a member of a Springfield Baptist Church, told us, “The Spirit just wasn’t here.” Turns out we had not sung her favorite hymns. I admit her statement bothered me, first that she wasn’t blessed, but […]
September 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 44
To the Saints,
“And all who believed were together and hadall things in common” (Acts 2:44, ESV)
I don’t do this too often because it lessens the impact. But, I think thisis the right time to make an appeal to you, my dear church family. I am askingthose of you who have not done […]
August 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 43
To the Saints,
This week we witnessed three deaths (of course there were many more, but at the moment, I’m aware of three): Amy Winehouse, a talented, yet troubled artist,John Stott, a leading light of the evangelical movement in Europe and beyond, and Opal Copeland, a member of our church whose life of faithfulness stalked the […]
July 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 42
Dear Friends,
My purpose in writing this month is to hopefully build your enthusiasm for what is happening in August. 100 years ago, beginning July 15, 1911, with a Revival Service sponsored by a committee from East Avenue Baptist (today’s National Heights Baptist) that gathered 44 conversions to Christ, began the process that on August […]
June 1st, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 41
To the Saints,
Once again in the past week we’ve been confronted with natural disaster and in it’s wake, human suffering. This time it’s much closer to home. Have you noticed that disasters closer to us geographically also feel closer emotionally? Most ofus have been in Joplin at some time. Several of us have friends, […]
May 6th, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 40You’ve likely already been asked (or asked someone else) thisquestion this past week: “So, how was your Easter?” Around the watercooler or over coffee, we recount our big day: where we went to church,what was on the menu, was familial catastrophe averted, etc. And by thetime Wednesday rolled around, people’s attention shifted to the […]
Read MoreApril 14th, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 39
A Tale of Two Tales
Tale One
Among the Saxon people of Europe, Eostre, the goddess of spring and fertility reigned. Her sacred animal was the hare, and was acquainted with reproduction. She tossed the hare into the sky creating the constellation Lepus the hare and empowering it, once a year, to bear eggs. From the 16th […]
March 17th, 2011
Pastors Blogspot 38
To the Saints,
Does the enemy ever tempt you to think that you’re the “only one” who struggles in the Christian life? Do you feel weak and wonder if you can even pray when it seems you’re empty and God may not be listening?
The Lord tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my […]
