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Creative Giving to Preserve Dignity and Build Relationship, The Sequel

Creative Giving to Preserve Dignity and Build Relationship, The Sequel

Back in June I wrote a post about hiring a homeless man to clean my air conditioning unit. His name was Tony. A couple of weeks ago I was serving dinner in a homeless shelter and encountered Tony again. I told him to stop by when he had a chance. A few days later he dropped in the office. We visited and caught up with each other.   A couple of days … Read entire article »

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Guest Post–Erin Potter Kaye, Creatively Ministering in this Tough Economy

Last week I wrote a post on ministering to others during this tough economy.  A friend and colleague, Rev. Erin Potter Kaye, called me a couple of days later to share a great creative response to someone’s financial need.  Here is her story in my first guest post.  Thanks Erin for sharing! ——– Hi John. Last Wednesday I read your post on the Practical Disciple and was inspired to share a story with you. The day before, Tuesday, I was supposed to be at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, near Little Rock, AR, on a private planning retreat. However, a saint of the church had passed away the previous Friday, and I was honored to be asked to preside at the funeral on Tuesday morning. Afterward, I went back to the church office … Read entire article »

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Fleeting life and the unseen church

Fleeting life and the unseen church

  Ecclesiastes makes us mindful of the rapid passage of life.  I was tangibly reminded of this yesterday when I visited ground zero where the World Trade Center once stood.  Even now nearly 8 years later, the sound of bulldozers and dust fill the air as the ground is prepared for a memorial site.  Visitors continue to flock by the dozens.  There is hushed grief as people relive the memory of that day and viscerally feel … Read entire article »

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A Patience Story

I visited someone’s blog whom I met recently. Unfortunately, I met them because I was officiating their mother’s funeral. While it was a sad way to make someone’s acquaintance; nevertheless, I feel blessed to have met this person and their family. I feel blessed for a moment to have vicariously met her mother. Moments, like these, moments of remembering loved one’s with a family, give pastors an opportunity to regularly reflect on the fragile and fleeting nature of life. It is a mixed blessing, but undoubtably a blessing. This blessing that comes with watching life pass was punctuated this evening as I went with my wife to watch a stage version of the wonderful book, Tuesday’s with Morrie. For those of you who … Read entire article »

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Being Prodigal

Being Prodigal

Most of us know the story of the prodigal son.  A young man, probably full of late adolescent angst or early twenty know-it-all syndrome, tells his daddy.  ”I can’t wait until your dead to get my money.  Give it to me now.”  Forgive me for the tremendous paraphrasing but you  get the idea.  Dad gives him the money.  The young man then heads out on his own.  He squanders his money and finds himself yearning … Read entire article »

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A Simple Exercise to Grow in Charity and Grace

A Simple Exercise to Grow in Charity and Grace

Carry a one dollar bill in your bill fold with a paper clip on it.  Pray that God will send you the person that needs this one dollar bill.  Then the next time you are approached by someone needing money, trust that this is the person you need to give the bill to and let them have it.  I suspect some of you just raised an eyebrow and within you an objection is arising.  ”If … Read entire article »

Filed under: compassion