Pastoring: a view from retirement.
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ON TURNING 48
Reflections on My Other Birthday Spiritual, that is. December 14, 1972 the wind of the Spirit blew irresistibly (John 3:1-8) into my life through a gospel conversation. My eyes opened, my chains fell off, my heart was free. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound indeed! As I savored this morning’s coffee, overlooking the Idaho winter…
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MY WASTING RIGHT HAND
Surgery on Monday to Restore Its Use I keep thinking I’ve run out of downstream consequences of radiation treatment to my neck so many years ago. Not so! The latest version of guess-what-we-get-to-deal-with-now is the near uselessness of my dominant hand. I’ve struggled with neuropathy in my right hand fingers ever since chemo in 2005.…
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SOFT ANSWER, DOUBLE VICTORY
Peacemaking Wisdom from Proverbs Recently I’ve returned to a helpful practice I learned early on in my spiritual journey. Each morning I read a chapter of the book of Proverbs for that day of the month. This time around I’m observing just how many verses contain valuable peacemaking insights. When I come across such verses,…
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WHEN RELATIONSHIPS RUPTURE–A TIMELY MESSAGE FOR OUR DIVISIVE TIMES
My Sermon from Acts 15:36-41 at Orlando Grace Church
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A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY BRIDE
63 Reasons I’m Crazy About You Jan Leslie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I’m crazier about you more than ever. Here are 63 reasons you might like to know–just sayin. One, you love Jesus more than me. Two, family matters to you, bigtime. Three, your gift of encouragement. Four, your gift of mercy. Five, your gift of music–piano…
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A JOYFUL PRIVILEGE
My Opportunity to Preach this Sunday at OGC Two years ago August I stepped aside from my role as pastor-teacher at Orlando Grace Church. This Sunday, September 20, 2020, I have the joy to return to that pulpit for the first time in two years. God’s timing is always perfect. I plan to preach from…
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FIRST THINGS FIRST
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People came on the market again last May with a 30th anniversary edition. The New York Times best seller—over 40 million copies sold—may be known best for one quote in particular. “The main thing is to keep the main thing…
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A PERFECT BOOK FOR OUR POLARIZED AGE
A Review of Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution It was my joy and honor to write this review posted today at The Gospel Coalition website. To read the article click here.
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WHEN LOSSES MOUNT
A Promise of Comfort for a Year of Woes Anyone else wishing for a reboot to 2020? If only it were possible. First there was COVID-19, its interminable lockdown, and challenges over church reopening. Then came a notice from Baker Publishing: your book is going out of print due to lack of demand. I had hoped…
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I CHOOSE TO THANK YOU
An Original Song by Guest Blogger, Jan Leslie Heffelfinger I wrote this song many, many years ago, but it has really been on my mind this week. “The hits just keep coming,” as Curt likes to say. The needs and hurts of people we love and in our own lives can be so overwhelming .…
Got any book recommendations?
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