Yesterday I went with EJ to the doctor. She ordered him an MRI and more blood work (which we will get done today). She gave him exercises to do for his back, and prescribed more pain medication and something to help him sleep. EJ asked her about going on disability, which many people have encouraged him to look into. It took him a long time to even consider going on disability because he wants to be able to work, not be an invalid. The doctor said that since EJ hasn’t yet had back surgery, etc., it would be probably be difficult for him to get disability, and then he might not get the full amount, so we’d struggle financially–and it might work against him if he sought work in the future.
Monthly Archives: August 2011
Weakness and Strength
Have you ever had one of those awful years were difficulty follows problems follows heartbreak follows stress?
The Intolerance of Tolerance
This is an interesting article by Greg Koukl.
Probably no concept has more currency in our politically-correct culture than the notion of tolerance. Unfortunately, one of America’s noblest virtues has been so distorted it’s become a vice.
Relationship AND Rules (or Mount St. Helen AND Marriage)
I feel a need to re-emphasize what I wrote in my last post, because I know that it could be easy to overlook what I am trying to say, and hear only one part, and I want BOTH parts to be heard.
An Offensive God
I think it was C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite authors, who wrote that every generation has it’s strengths and weaknesses. Often, the current generation feels superior to previous generations, not realizing that while they may be stronger in some characteristics, a previous generation was stronger in others. So one generation might understand the love of God better, but other generations understood God’s holiness better, or had more courage in suffering, or had a deeper humility, or better grasp of obedience. Lewis suggested that people read books from all generations, and not just modern books, because if we read only books from the current generation, we gain only its strengths and all of it’s weaknesses. In reading books from every generation, we learn from the strengths of every generation and minimize weaknesses. I think that is wise advice.
Put In My Place
Yesterday I responded to a status on Facebook, and got very soundly put in my place. It was not a FB friend that I really knew. A year or so ago a friend had linked to a picture this guy had shared, and I commented on the picture, and he asked to be my friend because he liked what I said. I thought, “Why not?” and accepted the friend request. So I don’t really know this person, and he doesn’t know me.
Discipleship and the Hebraic Worldview
Cheryl Hauer of Bridges For Peace wrote a very good article about discipleship that I think is important to share. Understanding what discipleship is from a Hebraic perspective has changed the way I live.
What Now? Two Church Stories
It’s all very good to discuss what church, church ministry, and the role of pastors are and aren’t, but it’s quite another to know what it ought to be and how to get there from here.
What is the Role of a Pastor?
I believe that the church has erred in that leadership often grasps for power. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard leaders say that people ought to submit to them because they have authority over the congregation. There’s too much emphasis on getting authority rather than being the servant. This has been a problem through the centuries ever since Constantine gave favored status to the church. We have forgotten what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28.
What is Church Ministry?
Our experiences at the little church we attended, as well as other churches has caused me to question what CHURCH ministry really is.
