Discussion Question: What is Church? A few weeks ago, the church service kicked off with a discussion question: “What is Church?” We broke into small groups with those sitting around us. After exchanging introductions (why hadn’t we already done...
What I Learned From the Parade of Homes I’m not sure how widespread this is, but in our corner of Michigan, there’s an annual event in several cities called the Parade of Homes. It’s like a progressive dinner, but instead of eating at each stop...
Reflecting on Church #14: A Theology That Divides Jesus’ Church With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #14. My experience at this church is...
Confessions About Fasting Last Sunday’s post about sharing our spiritual struggles was really the introduction for this week’s post, my groaning to reach what I strive for. My confession is that my normal joy of fasting has been mired in a season...
Reflecting on Church #13: Lunch After Church With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #13. If not for a prior commitment, this pastor and his...
Do We Share Our Spiritual Struggles as Much as Our Triumphs? A friend once told how he gave his TV away; he didn’t want one anymore. It was a spiritual act, a voluntary fast from television and the distractions it provided, in order to give him...
Reflecting on Church #12: Focus on God, Not the Minister With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #12. This United Methodist Church drew me. I...
Many years ago my dad gave me his twelve-year-old riding lawnmower. “If you’re careful,” he advised, “you might get a couple more years out of it. The first time I used it, I prayed. I thanked God for his provision and for my parents’ generosity...
Reflecting on Church #11: Charismatic Lite With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #11. At this charismatic church, most of the attendees...
Never Just Say a Quick Prayer I cringe whenever someone says, “Let’s just say a quick prayer.” Prayer is holy communication with the Almighty. It is a hallowed honor that we, as mere human beings, are granted the privilege to experience with the...
