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There are currently 481 posts.
Recent comments on pages throughout the site
Chris Gadlage wrote on 3/9/2010 9:27:04 PM
They also added a slash to the end instead of ending with "pdf".
It took a while to figure out, but the links should be:
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_3_xwbi5ham.intentional_faith_development.pdf
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_4_nzxpeues.risk-taking_mission_and_service.pdf
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_5_b66qpx2j.extravagant_generosity.pdf
Chris Gadlage wrote on 3/9/2010 9:22:38 PM
It returns a server error because they left off the server and directory tree information. It is not an error on your system.
The Thief wrote on 3/8/2010 9:21:43 AM
I love Sunday mornings, too, and it's really great reading someone else's reflections on it. It made me disappointed that this is Monday and I have to wait all week for Sunday!
John Clifford wrote on 3/3/2010 6:38:09 PM
Sunday morning -- ah yes! And a lot of it has to do with seeing this as the FIRST day of the week, the day to set the tone for the other six days! God sets us up with a fresh start, and we too often see it as the "week-end." Even after 40 years preaching, there is an excitement to new beginnings!
Susan Jespersen wrote on 3/1/2010 1:09:27 PM
Me, too! Thank you, Bishop.
Greg Bright wrote on 3/1/2010 1:02:46 PM
I also love Sundays at church. But I know that 70% or more of Americans don't feel the same way and they're much more interested in spending their Sunday mornings doing something else. They have either not had the "Sunday morning church" experience or have been turned off by it. This is true even in congregations that are good at the "Five Practices." Why do you think this is?
Pastor Susan wrote on 2/24/2010 5:14:31 PM
During Lent we are working on understanding the basics of Christian life. My thoughts keep circling around repentance and how one really does repent and then experience the freedom of God's forgiveness. I can certainly understand how developing one's faith takes the same type of discipline that developing more muscle mass takes. Thank you for making faith so clear and for taking away the mystery.
Leslie Martin wrote on 2/23/2010 7:35:59 PM
Sermons still cannot be opened!!!
Cokesbury Teachable Study Guide
Elizabeth wrote on 2/17/2010 12:11:20 PM
I can't get this study guide to open.
Free downloads: Local churches' Five Practices images
Wayne wilson wrote on 2/16/2010 2:24:19 PM
The image was displayed by Adobe but I was not able to save it to a disk to take to Office Max to have posters made. Any suggestions?
156. Creating Openings for God
Sally McGinnis (Holt UMC) wrote on 2/15/2010 6:04:29 PM
Holt UMC will be having dinner dates with God and go through Phillip Yancey's study, "What's So Amazing about Grace".
Thank you for your encouragement through the blog and also as you lead our pastors. I really enjoyed the article in the Methodist Report on the pastors training.
God bless you and your cabinet. They are a blessing to our conference.
156. Creating Openings for God
Andy Bryan wrote on 2/15/2010 3:36:37 PM
Campbell UMC is using the theme "How is it with your soul?" this Lent. Sunday morning worship will use Psalms that talk about soul or spirit or heart, inner expressions of longing and devotion.
We are adding a Sunday evening worship service during the season, also.
156. Creating Openings for God
Nancy K. Kincaid wrote on 2/15/2010 2:49:11 PM
Well, your words of wisdom have been missed. Welcome back.
During the Lenten season, my husband and I will be experiencing, up close and personal, The 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations, as we seek a new church home. We are listening to God and to our hearts on this journey. A door will be opened.
Free downloads: Local churches' Five Practices images
paula wrote on 2/15/2010 2:46:00 PM
Thank you!!
Becoming 'like next door neighbors' transforms church
PAULA wrote on 2/15/2010 2:43:58 PM
I know Jeff and Chris and their love for God and people. They're the real thing!
God is using them and their church as wonderful examples of God's renewal when we make the gospel relevant to the people God has placed around us.
Amelia Thrift Store's mission keeps growing
Mae Leader wrote on 2/1/2010 3:22:23 PM
This is a story that needs to be told and shown in all of our churches. Our church, too, had a small group of people who acted in faith and started a Thrift Shop, but through the years has lost sight of the original purpose which was to enlarge their mission giving. The lesson that the more you give , the more you receive, is being missed and it is my belief that it is stunting the growth of our church.
Worship skits, Sunday school tools and forms for creative planning
Glenna Lybrand wrote on 1/31/2010 5:08:10 PM
As leader for Passionate Worship in our church, I found St. Johns' skits and reflection sheet to be very helpful. Thanks so much for making them available online. I also love the poster!
Carolyn Belshe wrote on 1/19/2010 9:54:46 PM
Loosing two colleagues in the rubble, seeing babies rescued, yet seeing bodies being buried in open multi count graves, just seeking God's Peace in the turmoil. Then, to see the workings of so many doing so much to help. Such thankfulness as the French government forgives the slave prices that the country had been paying for, for so many years! My prayer continues for our church and others to share in the gospel through social works of education, health care, ministries of varying kinds to push the black magic holding such power over Haiti for so long, to push it out and reclaim its people's soul with Peace. Thank you Bishop - a pastor of pastors, a shepherd of a people. Clint and Sam have caused the world's eyes to turn their hearts in the direction of healing of a calamity by breathing life into a country of people who have suffered so long.
Susan Marner-Sides wrote on 1/19/2010 6:33:21 PM
" ... any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."
John Donne, 1624
Max Marble wrote on 1/19/2010 4:52:37 PM
I have been out on the road around our conference this whole past week and our conference is mourning this sad news and your post is most helpful for this important process. Audrey, Jeff and I were on a conference call with Clint a couple of weeks ago with suggestions for the new VIM manual he was working on. I met Clint as we travel together in Mozambique 11 years ago. We do celebrate his life.
Sid Hall, III wrote on 1/19/2010 2:06:27 PM
Thank you, Bishop Schnase, for these powerful words of sorrow, loss, and healing. You poingnantly summed up what many of us who knew and loved Clint are feeling right now. Our prayers are with the families and colleagues of Sam and Clint, as well as the tens of thousands of missing or deceased people for whom others see in their mind's eye when they look at the devastation in Haiti.
Carol Kreamer wrote on 1/19/2010 1:30:19 PM
Said in all humility and grace - I share those emotions from the time that I received the first text message about my friend Clint Rabb. The United Methodist Church in Mozambique and the Missouri Mozambique Initiative owe much to Clint Rabb. We will surely miss both Sam Dixon and Clint Rabb - both of whom touched many, many lives across the globe. It was hard to not just sit and cry and seek an Advance number when the devastation became known. It became harder when I learned about our friend Clint - his face became the face of the disaster for me and my husband, Bill, with its twisting of fate during the week, and when we lost him on Sunday morning. For each one of the many lost, for each one of the many suffering, for each one ...there are those just like us who are morning their loss and suffering; there are those crying and hurting and trying to survive. And for us, in our safe homes providing shelter, with food on the table and water on tap, we continue to cry, and give, and serve. We ARE the body of Christ. Thank you Bishop for sharing your personal story so eloquently. We will miss our friend Clint. We will miss Sam at UMCOR. And the world will miss many, many more. Peace be with you, C
Bradley L. DeHaven wrote on 1/19/2010 12:31:53 PM
Thank you, Bishop. Your words bring comfort and facilitate healing. You also cast threads of grace across chasms of distance.
154. A video message from Bishop Schnase regarding the earthquake in Haiti
Carol Berg wrote on 1/16/2010 5:05:14 PM
I like your video. It was just announced that Sam Dixon, Deputy General Secretary, UMCOR, died in the rubble before they could get to him. We need to pray for his family and friends as well as the Haitians.
Carol
Susan wrote on 1/15/2010 7:06:45 PM
Thank you for modeling for our pastors and laypersons what it means to be a person of prayer.