It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship. That’s the mantra that is becoming so prevalent in christian circles (yes, the word christian is lowercase on purpose). Can we get so caught up in semantics that we forget to set examples and actually work on building relationships with God and one another?
One of the relationships that can be difficult to keep healthy is marriage. It is the most intimate relationship we have here on earth with one another and the one that takes the most effort. There can be several reasons why it is difficult to grow. One is because as humans, we are most often focused on ourselves, our own needs and desires. Consequently, we put the needs and desires of others behind ours. Continue reading
As you network with other people involved in ministry, what is your first impression? Is it that they must serve full-time in ministry somewhere? Many people have thought that about me as I have served in ministry and maintained resource web sites offering guidance to many in ministry. As I served in the local church, there were members who thought that I was a full-time pastor.
hen people ask me how I’m doing, I have to admit that I usually say “things are well, I’m just busy.” While that is true, I may actually be inadvertently driving them away with that answer. For example, I generally try to make time to watch children in their various activities, school, sports, and whatever else. The hardest thing for me to do is get schedules, and I have had parents tell me that they didn’t want to bother me because they know I’m busy. This, despite the fact that I try to stress that I really do want to see their kids in their activities. The parents’ perceived level of my busyness actually keeps me from being able to do the thing I really want to do. Regardless of how busy I actually am, or what I tell them about what I want to do, in the end, it is their perception of my level of busyness which is most important. 
Imagine a church where every Sunday you did not know who was going to presenting the message. A church where every Sunday the music might be a little different.