I've been reading a good book the last week or so--am almost done with it. One of the many, many trends in our day among evangelicals is to leave the "institutional" church, and to get together with a few friends for fellowship instead. While that is an extreme response to the challenges of the church (and one which, incidentally, Christ the Head of the Church does NOT commend in the Bible), we all know that being a member of Christ's church--particularly a local church--has its moments.
This is a book that, while it adresses the extreme of leaving the organized church altogether, also positively gives a wonderful vision for not only tolerating, but loving Christ's Church--and our local church. If you'd like to borrow if, please do (I should be done reading it by next week).
By the way, this book is not scholarly--you won't get bogged down by it.

A Gift for Father's Day

This Sunday, I am told, if Father's Day. As a father, I'm not sure I'm crazy about Father's Day. I could easily do without it, honestly. But here is an article that we may take to heart--think of something more useful for Father's Day than the usual Father's Day gift. Better yet, take Father's Day to meditate on the ultimate Father, who gave his own Son so that men and women could be his children, instead of remaining rebels and prodigals. Every Lord's Day is, in one sense, Father's Day for him. Except that everything we give to him is in the final analysis a gift from him to us, and places us even further--delightfully so--in his debt. How strange the gospel works, that even when we do good it is because God has granted us the wherewithal both to desire and to do what glorifies him (see Philippians 2:13).
But I digress. Read the article anyway. And think about what you ahve been given, and be generous, not out of guilt, but out of grace.

MTW Video

Here is an excellent video, including Jon Eide and Garret and Kristen Clemmer, about the mission of MTW in the Ukraine. Don't miss it!