Pastors and Historical Research
I will admit it; I love social media, and I think it is an excellent tool for evangelism and understanding. However, one of the biggest problems with social media is the ability to post whatever we...
View ArticleChurch Trends in 2016
Church leaders need to be in tune to trends that will shape the future of society and eventually shape the future of the church. I know the argument that the church should be influencing society, and...
View ArticleIs the Church Dying?
“The church is not dying, it is merely relocating to the streets” – Rev. Traci Blackmon The question of whether or not the church is dying is an interesting one, and I would answer yes and no. I...
View ArticleWhy People are Leaving the Church
One of the responsibilities of anyone in pastoral leadership is to be able to answer the question of why people are leaving your church. I know this will ruffle some feathers, but sometimes we have to...
View ArticleThom Rainer’s Major Trends for 2017
The church of the 21st century is going to require pastors to acquire a new set of tools. The church, and by that I mean all churches, has never been very good at reading the trends in society. Sure...
View ArticlePredictions of the Future Church
As a follow-up to my last post, I am reaching back to a post from February of 2015 written by pastor and blogger Carey Nieuwhof. I mentioned in previous posts that one of the jobs of pastors in the...
View ArticleThe world needs properly trained clergy
Certain professions, doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, auto mechanics require a certain level of education and competence. One would not consider hiring a lawyer or going to a...
View ArticleReflection: Church as a Place of Healing
One of the tasks of my ministry as an interim minister is to assist the congregation in taking a look at themselves and all of their ministries. It is not an easy task to ask folks, who have been...
View ArticleSermon: The Grateful Society
This sermon is part of a series based on the book Grateful, The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass. In my “From the Pastor” column in the weekly church newsletter, I share a...
View ArticleSermon: At Home with God
On Sunday, August 26, 2018, I had the honor of offering the Sunday Morning Worship Service for reenactors and others at the Red Apple Farm in Philipston, Massachusetts. This is the text of my sermon...
View ArticleSermon: Take Heart
The healing of Bartimaeus is the last of the healing stories in Mark, and it is significant in that it points to the continued blindness of the disciples as to who Jesus is.
View ArticleAfter Seventeen Years It Is Time To Say Goodbye
Serving as a fire chaplain and as part of the Corps of Fire Chaplains has added a dimension to my ministry that I never thought I would have.
View ArticleCaring Hands
Sometimes we must allow others to be Jesus for us and wash our feet. It is a good reminder of how we are supposed to love and care for each other.
View ArticleAsh Wednesday
But we should not linger too long with this idea of dust, death, and repentance. We should constantly focus on the knowledge that God loves us and that our job is to bring that love into the world.
View ArticleWhat must I do?
For Jesus, perfection comes not only in keeping all of the rules but also in loving and caring for each other.
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