Ummm … Coffee!
Anyone who spies me in the morning has a pretty good idea that coffee is one of my best friends. A good cuppa is my near-constant companion from breakfast until an hour before lunch. Except when I’m a visitor at church … or at least at most churches. You see, although I’m not a coffee […]
Three Common Contagious Church Viruses: Part 3
“The Church Doctor will see you now.” “Tell me,” the doctor said, “What seems to be ailing you?” The church shared her symptoms. Lethargy. Uncontrollable membership loss. And an unmistakeable rumbly in her tumbly. “It’s most likely one of three common contagious church viruses.” Self-Interitis Self-Interitis affects virtually all declining churches. Symptoms: Inability to make […]
Three Common Contagious Church Viruses: Part 2
“The Church Doctor will see you now.” “Tell me,” the doctor said, “What seems to be ailing you?” The church shared her symptoms. Lethargy. Uncontrollable membership loss. And an unmistakeable rumbly in her tumbly. “It’s most likely one of three common contagious church viruses.” Capitulation Infection Capitulation Infection is one of the most contagious and […]
Three Common Contagious Church Viruses: Part 1
“The Church Doctor will see you now.” The church had a bit of grimace on her face, but she shuffled in and hopped up onto the paper-covered examination table. “Tell me,” the doctor said. “What seems to be ailing you?” The church shared her symptoms. Lethargy. Uncontrollable membership loss. And an unmistakeable rumbly in her […]
Know the Competition
In my community, there are a couple of new church starts kicking off. One’s in my denomination and another is in a denomination not too dissimilar to mine. I’ve met both pastors. They’re younger than I am. They have more energy than I have (barely!). And they both have denominational funding behind them. But they’re […]
Make This Father’s Day Service Special
Let’s face it, Father’s Day is the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays. It’s the, “I get-no-respect” little brother to Mother’s Day. Interestingly, the American version of Father’s Day was first proposed in 1909 by a grateful daughter, Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, a Civil War veteran, singlehandedly raised six children after his wife died in childbirth. […]