Entries tagged with "family" | This Side of the Pulpit

This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "family"

A Generation Gone

December 5th, 2011 | 8 Comments

I find it sad when I meet the children of faithful members and I ask them where they live and they say, “Oh, I live here in Enid.” Then I find out they are going to a church of another denomination. As a parent I know that we only have so much influence on our children. But I look at my congregation and see an entire generation missing from our pews. Seriously. There are exceptions, to be sure. But I wonder what happened then, and what happens now, and what I can do as a parent and pastor to prevent that in the future. Any ideas? … Read entire article »

Filed under: Uncategorized

When is it Time to Quit?

October 26th, 2011 | 2 Comments

My wife had yet another set back in her goal to get her degree finished. I won’t get into the hairy details, but she has had so many blows and denials and refusals and Resistance, it’s not even funny anymore. She really is beating her head against the wall. She wonders why God is not opening doors…or windows…or anything. She is wondering why every turn seems blocked. It really feels like a sign to her. I … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

From Your Side

July 6th, 2011 | 1 Comment

Last Sunday I attended church by sitting in a pew instead of standing up there where I usually worship. It was a joy to sit and stand next to my family: my aunt behind me, my sisters and parents down the pew and in front. If I cannot be with my church family here, then being with my relatives is the best. It was good to help my son remember to stand and pray, to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal, Theology

Great Essay on Parenting

March 30th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Parents? Read this article RIGHT NOW! … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

The Absent-Minded Pastor

February 24th, 2011 | Add a Comment

My youngest wandered into our bedroom this morning as I was ignoring the alarm and asked me to pray that he “not be sick anymore.” I mumbled yes and he went downstairs to see his sisters as they were getting ready for school. I didn’t realize he was sick. I mean, he had a cold a week or so ago, but didn’t seem to be snorting around anymore. I could be allergies. Mine have been crazy, Marjorie–who doesn’t have allergies–has been sneezing and wandering around with red, itchy eyes, and the cedar and juniper pollen levels are in fine form. Could be that. Or it could be I need to investigate a little after school. The irony of all this is that for the past three days I have been trying to be … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Parenthood and Passions

February 16th, 2011 | 1 Comment

I am still thinking about the article from Fr. Tobias that I read (and posted to FB a little while ago).Controlling the passions is not something Lutherans talk much about, but it is definetaly a Scriptural way of talk ingy about our sinful natures. But most importantly his post addressed the importance of modeling our behavior to our children. They respond the way we seem the respond. I’ve seen the same thing with myself…not as a kid, but now as I relate to my own kids and hear myself sounding just like my dad. Sometimes this is good, and sometimes I wince as I hear myself adopting the same tone he did. We’ve all been through that, anyway, if you’re old enough. What is harder to see is how your current behavior … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

Saturday Night Oops

November 20th, 2010 | 2 Comments

Sometimes on Saturday night about this time your pastor will take a look at his sermon and think, “This is really not very good.” It happened to me about fifteen minutes ago, and I am stewing a bit. I really wanted this one to be good, and I’m afraid I tried too hard. Tried to be subtle instead of saying what a I want to say. But it’s late, and I have family in town, staying at our home, and Sunday morning is is already beating its way around the Earth. So I will look at the sermon a few more times and try not to gag, and go tomorrow and preach it. Just preach it. The difference ten years makes is I will not re-write it, at least much. I will not let … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology, Writing&Books

Changes to the Blog

September 10th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Just a brief post to let you know that I’ve decided to add some personal pictures to the blog. The last post was updated, in case you actually happened to read it already. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Being Mr. Mom

July 23rd, 2010 | 1 Comment

Marjorie and the eldest were away for the National Youth Gathering for six days. Six days with three kids at home, Sunday Worship and a large funeral. We had swimming lessons and trips to the store, swimming for fun and more trips to the store. And cleaning, cleaning, straightening up and dishes! Dishes galore! We also bought three kinds of chocolate cereal at the store. They liked that. Getting the lawn mowed was not easy. I had to pick a time I knew they would not be going at each other’s throats nor eating all the chocolate cereal while I was distracted outside. I didn’t do laundry, nor did I wash the floors. We swept them, and the Household Elves showed up yesterday wearing cute hats to sweep the floors very thoroughly. Nor did … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal