Unexpected blessings
After a six month sabbatical, I expected that life would be very different when we returned home. That turned out to be true, but not in the way I thought........
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Persecuted Church
Our brothers and sisters around the globe face daily persecution. ...
Unexpected blessings
After a six month sabbatical, I expected that life would be very different when we returned home. That turned out to be true, but not in the way I thought........
New Books in the Library!
It's no secret that I love books. That is why I am excited to tell you that the library is getting a lot of new books....
Stocking-stuffer ideas for families
Reviews of several gift ideas for children and parents....
Fighting for Joy in the Desert
practical thoughts for dealing with a season of spiritual dryness...
Pastor Briefing: Semper Reformanda
With Reformation Sunday coming at the end of the month, I thought it timely to discuss a valuable principle from church history......
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A Review from Sing! Conference 2019
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Sing! Conference in Nashville, hosted by Getty Music....
Pray for Hong Kong
We should be praying for our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong right now......
Guard Your Heart
On Sunday, Rick Schatz shared at the end of his sermon various ways that will help us finish the Christian life well. Here is a recap of that list:...
Pastor Briefing: Joshua Harris’ Announcement
How do we respond to Joshua Harris's announcement that he is getting divorced from both his wife and Christian faith? ...
Haunted
Middle Eastern women interviewed on a recent podcast have left me humbled and inspired by their devotion and confidence in God's Word....
Inviting Children to Encounter Jesus
Family ministry summer intern, Kate Cupp, reflects on VBS....
A Word to Anyone Helping in Children’s Ministry (or the boring and inappropriate title)
God uses ordinary people in his redemptive story...
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The Storm-Tossed Family
Last week I posted about some of the books I've been reading of late; now I want to dive into one in particular....
On My Reading Shelf
Here's a look at what I've recently read or am reading right now...
A Tragedy for Western Civilization
The burning of Notre Dame is a tragedy for all Western Civilization......
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God & Post-it Notes
I have a student - let’s call him Karl - who’s a bit fidgety in choir class......
God's Immutability in Resurrection Glory
the message of Easter flows from the attributes of God...
A Biblical Love Poem
The Bible celebrates love between a husband and a wife, sometimes in the most shocking ways....
What the Elders are Reading
Do you want to know what the elders are reading right now?...
Book Review: resource to help parents (and others) lead children to clarity about gender identity
New book helps parents, mentors, pastors, youth ministers, children’s ministry volunteers, or simply friends "bring clarity to young minds in a world that is spinning in confusion" ...
Catch Up on Summer Books
Did you miss out on seeing what books we were recommending and selling this summer? Catch up now with a complete list of what we had at the book table....
Resolved: Not to make resolutions
Resolutions are easily forgotten in the shuffle of the new year. Instead of a list of resolutions, perhaps one word to guide my thoughts and intentions will keep me focused on how God wants to grow me this year....
Book Recommendations for Christmas Gifts
Here's some help for finding books to give away as Christmas gifts this year. ...
Responding to Texas
How do we respond to the events in Texas that happened on Sunday? ...
Worship at Joyful Noise
Have you ever wondered why we have a kids’ music program at ECC? Of all the things we could have offered for kids to do while their siblings are at youth group, why music? ...
Submission to Jesus: Where Real Change Takes Place
Discipleship is about change. Everyone wants to change......
Discipleship at our Church
At ECC, we are committed to at least 10 core values that guide us in our discipleship practice. ...
Let no one despise you for your youth
1 Timothy 4:12 as it applies to training our youth for serving during worship....
Keep ReadingHaunted
Middle Eastern women interviewed on a recent podcast have left me humbled and inspired by their devotion and confidence in God's Word....
Keep ReadingHospitality is not optional
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Hospitality is a subject we talk a lot about. God seems to be pushing me to actually DO something about it..........
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Thoughts during Lent
Lent is often considered a time of quiet reflection. But it might also be a time God uses to challenge us to consider how we live out the Gospel all year long....
Keep ReadingSabbatical Reading
Sabbatical has allowed me to be more intentional about reading. I hope these reviews will help spur you on to make time to read as well....
Keep ReadingBook Review: resource to help parents (and others) lead children to clarity about gender identity
New book helps parents, mentors, pastors, youth ministers, children’s ministry volunteers, or simply friends "bring clarity to young minds in a world that is spinning in confusion" ...
Keep ReadingWelcoming 'interruptions'
Interruptions or blessings? What is God doing with us when we expect life to go one way and it goes some completely different way?...
Keep ReadingCatch Up on Summer Books
Did you miss out on seeing what books we were recommending and selling this summer? Catch up now with a complete list of what we had at the book table....
Keep ReadingBusy for the wrong reasons
What controls your life? The demands of others? Seeking self-fulfillment? I am re-thinking how I structure my life and what controls my activities....
Keep ReadingWhy go to Worship every week?
We need to worship even when we do not feel like it. God feeds us there, and our fellow worshipers have the opportunity to minister to us, as we do for them....
Keep ReadingResolved: Not to make resolutions
Resolutions are easily forgotten in the shuffle of the new year. Instead of a list of resolutions, perhaps one word to guide my thoughts and intentions will keep me focused on how God wants to grow me this year....
Keep ReadingSubmission to Jesus: Where Real Change Takes Place
Discipleship is about change. Everyone wants to change......
Keep ReadingDiscipleship at our Church
At ECC, we are committed to at least 10 core values that guide us in our discipleship practice. ...
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Recommended Reading
Alas, the summer is coming to an end. Sunday School will be beginning soon (Sun, Aug 20!). And there are still dozens of books that you did not get to read yet...(or is that just my problem?) This past summer, the Christian Discipleship Committee sold (at a significant discount) different books that we recommended for your encouragement, edification, and growth. Now that ...
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Sadness & The Church
Sadness. Everyone experiences sadness at some point; it may come in the form of discouragement, the "blues," mourning over tragedy, depression, etc. Sadness is part of the Christian life. Did you know that? Or did you think that sadness only happens to those who are not following Jesus? The psalmist certainly knew sadness: My tears have been my food day and night...Why ...
Keep ReadingDoes Your Way Lead to Death?
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Prov 14:12) Proverbs 14:12 points out a systemic problem in our choices and viewpoints each day: we convince ourselves that our way is the right way. We deceive ourselves by choosing to read only those things that reinforce our way, rather than those things that reassess our way. We befriend t...
Keep ReadingRead for the Benefit of Others
Christians are called to read. That may sound bold, and even alienating to those who do not enjoy reading, but it is a true statement. Think about it: Christianity has always been defined as a religion centered on reading words. Christianity was birthed from the story found in the words of the Old Testament. The revelation of God to Israel was written down in words. In J...
Keep ReadingSummer Sunday Mornings, revisited
A few ideas for ways to use your Sunday mornings to feed on God's Word this summer, even without Sunday School!...
Keep ReadingA Model for Family Worship
Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of Family Worship. If you never have tried Family Worship or you are looking for a new model, let me suggest one example: Read, Sing, Pray. Keep in mind, this is not the only way to do Family Worship. So if you have a pattern that works for you, keep it! Our practice takes only 10-15 minutesmuch more and our family would probably spo...
Keep ReadingTea and a good book
This is really a book report on two books: Awe, by Paul David Tripp and The Afternoon of Life, by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Winter is a great time to read more. These two books just might change your perspective on life....
Keep ReadingThe Fuel of Thanksgiving
How do you grow thankfulness in your heart? Colossians 1 shows us the fuel for thankfulness: Beholding the glory of Jesus....
Keep ReadingProphets and Suffering: Coming Your Way
Beginning on November 1, we have two new Adult Sunday Schools for you to be a part of!...
Keep ReadingCommunity Groups
Why Community Groups? What possible reason do we believe you should be involved in Community Groups? Here are three reasons that exist behind Community Groups at ECC....
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Men's Prayer Night
This might be the most important thing our men do...and perhaps the hardest thing: devoting an evening to prayer together. ...
Keep ReadingYour Marriage is about Community
Getting married is not an isolated event between two people. Rather, a Christian wedding invites the entire community of the people of God to look in and peer on your marriage. Are you married? Then guess what...your relationship to your spouse is open to accountability from everyone else!...
Keep ReadingWide-Angle Bible Reading
Consider a new way of reading your Bible this summer: whole book Bible reading. Here's why to do it and how it might change your outlook on the Bible....
Keep ReadingFinding and keeping community
Community is not just a buzzword. It is important to all of us. We need to value the work of building community. We need others, and others need us....
Keep ReadingWhy memorize Scripture?
Memorizing Scripture ministers to our own hearts and can help us minister to others. It is not just for the super spiritual. Rather, it is for those of us who need help the most!...
Keep ReadingThe Two-Step Dance of Sanctification
Now that we're here in the third week of Lent, have you thought about what you're going to do after Lent? Perhaps you've been following the ancient tradition of fasting during Lent, whether from food, luxuries, or some other form of excess. These practices connect us with our surpassing need for God and, hopefully, put us in a repentant frame of mind. That is, after all, ...
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Pursue Growth
Christian growth does not happen by accident. Rather we must pursue it. Here are a few upcoming opportunities to pursue growth....
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