Throughout my years of being a Christian, I’ve attended thousands of worship services. I’ve listened to sound and engaging preaching, endured a fair number of confusing sermons, sung countless songs, and watched the behavior of fellow Christians. I am ashamed to admit there are more than a few services from which I leave saying, “I got nothing out of it.” I frequently blamed the preaching, the song leading, the members nodding off, my own exhaustion, the failure of others to acknowledge my existence, but rarely did I do the thing that really needed to be done. Instead of saying, “I got nothing out of it, I should have been asking, “What did I put into it?” When we feel like we are leaving worship “unfulfilled,” it’s time ask ourselves some hard questions.
Tag: Giving
Three mechanics of monetary giving
When I was a young adult, I didn't how much I should give or how to work it in to my life effectively. I gave rather sporadically as my limited funds allowed and was rather ashamed of my inconsistent giving. My intention was always to give more, but then some unexpected expense would arise and I'd have to hold back. This is what I have learned in the intervening years: effective giving is borne of intentional planning rather than good intentions. So, how do we do this without being Ebenezer Scrooge or living in a commune?
The Joy of Anticipation
Last night my 4-year old started digging around for his packages and shake them.
Elihu's Corner 