Uncategorized – Another Small Stone

Should we pray for persecution?

It doesn’t take a long time in the Sermon on the Mount before you realize that what Jesus says makes someone blessed is different from what most people think being blessed is. For instance, if you ask a cashier how she is doing and she responds, “I’m blessed” it is unlikely that you will inContinue reading “Should we pray for persecution?”

The words you say and when you say them

One of my new favorite movies is “The Pianist.” It’s a 2002 Holocaust film which depicts the true story of a Jewish pianist in Nazi occupied Poland. Near the end of the film (spoilers) a German officer lets him hide in an empty attic and regularly supplies him with food. Part of the genius ofContinue reading “The words you say and when you say them”

Ministry, Marriage, and the Delicate Balance of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7 is often put forward as the chapter on singleness. And while I do believe that it is the Bible’s most valuable chapter on that subject, how the Bible portrays singleness will–by implication– tell us a lot about what marriage is about. 1 Corinthians 7 states that singleness is better than marriage, becauseContinue reading “Ministry, Marriage, and the Delicate Balance of 1 Corinthians 7”

Our Business is People

You can’t measure how well or poorly you are doing something unless you have some sort of metric. Are you a good bricklayer? There is a few ways to measure that. Number of bricks laid, how strong the structure is, how honest your prices are, how well your clients like you. But here is theContinue reading “Our Business is People”

Bold as a Lion

“The wicked flee when no one pursues,but the righteous are bold as a lion.”Psalms 28:1 (ESV) Is there anything inherent in being righteous that makes you bold? I think so. There is a peace about the righteous, and much of that peace comes from the fact that the wicked, though wicked, still have consciences. TheyContinue reading “Bold as a Lion”

Reflections on the Kindle

I’m a sell-out. I have finally made the switch to preferring electronic books over print books (most of the time). Here are my reasons. Ease of access- I very vividly remember trying to read Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem in bed. If you aren’t familiar, it is a 1,296 page hardcover book. There is noContinue reading “Reflections on the Kindle”

Don’t Walk off a Cliff

At our church we have something called Members’ meetings. This is where, predictably, all the members get together and have a meeting. We talk church budgets, mission strategy, and church discipline. One part that I especially enjoy is the Q&A. They put up two microphones, a panel of pastors, and just let the members goContinue reading “Don’t Walk off a Cliff”