Settle down folks, this is not a politically based column! Actually, this is a column reminding you about our pastor and wife retreat called IGNITE which is held each fall. (Yes, we even met in 2020 in Cody, WY!). Ignite provides a more relaxed atmosphere in which to learn from some great preachers, teachers, and skilled professionals. Last year we had Ken…
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When it comes to ministry, there are many things that the Lord has left for us to navigate using wisdom principles and the Holy Spirit. For example, should you live stream or podcast your services? Or both? Or neither? How much of discipleship should be multi-generational, and how much should be age- and stage-specific? These…
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Monday, May 29th – Friday, June 2nd was the most recent biennial General Council for The Alliance! Held in Spokane, WA, it was great to see so many of our district pastors, wives, and laypeople present! Below is a brief report regarding that gathering that included some good services, the state of The Alliance via…
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Ever since I was a little boy, I have loved music! Originally it was the hymns we’d sing every Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday night at church — from the old red Alliance hymnal copyrighted I believe in 1962. From there I learned about a whole new kind of music to my ear — usually…
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Jesus’ sinless life, death, and resurrection is THE greatest victory, ever! When Christ went to the cross, voluntarily, after enduring multiple beatings that would have killed most people AND THEN had the sins of all the world — past, present, and future — placed upon Him, died and then rose again on the third day,…
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March is almost one-third gone! 2023 is flying by…soon Easter will be upon us. In March I have been varying the things I do in my connecting time with God each day. A major departure for me is not reading a book of the Bible, meditating on it, praying over it, and asking God what it is…
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Does anybody remember flannel graf stories? This was used long before PowerPoint, videos, film strips, and slides. I remember as a little boy growing up near Detroit, MI my Mother and our assistant pastor’s wife used flannel graf to teach us young elementary children Bible stories. One such story was the parable of the Good…
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A disagreement between two individuals at the church turns violent, a stranger strolls into the church office shouting obscenities, and a man carrying a semi-automatic weapon enters the sanctuary during a Sunday morning service. It is common for churches to believe the events mentioned above will never happen at their location. Many churches in the RMD…
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Years ago, Lori bought a verse on a plaque that hangs on the wall in one of the rooms in our home. It is from Micah 6:8 which says, “…and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I love that portion…
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One of my favorite questions to ask people this time of year is if they have any family traditions to celebrate the holidays. One person I talked to said their family hides a green ceramic pickle on the Christmas tree and the first person to find it gets a prize. Another said they always cook…
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