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Archive for September, 2007

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Sunday Inspiration from Pray the Psalms

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Excerpt
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14
Click here to read all of Psalm 90
Prayer
What better way to begin a new day, dear Lord, than by remembering Your […]

If I Had It To Do Over Again . . .

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

Part 11 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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I will be the pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church for two more days. At the stroke of midnight on Sunday, September 30th, my term of 5,936 days comes to an end, and I become the […]

A Philippian Attitude Adjustment

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Note: I’m not quite done with my series on Grace in the Rearview Mirror. There will be more tomorrow.
It’s easy to feel upbeat about life when things are going your way. Opportunities at work + social standing + love at home = a positive attitude. Then you get extra credit because an optimistic outlook breeds […]

The Hardest Thing About Being a Pastor

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Part 10 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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In yesterday’s post I explained several things I found difficult about being a parish pastor: the difficulty of certain decisions, the heaviness of people’s burdens, the painfulness of receiving criticism, and the implications of personnel […]

The Best Job in the World, Except . . .

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

Part 9 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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In my last post I explained why I often thought that I had the best job in the world as Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church. In fact, I often told people that I felt this […]

The Best Job in the World

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Part 8 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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There were many times during the past sixteen years when I thought I had the best job in the world. Yes, of course there were other times as well, and I’ll have something to say […]

The Stupidest Thing I Ever Said in a Sermon

Monday, September 24th, 2007

Part 7 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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I do not look back at my ministry at Irvine Presbyterian Church with many regrets. Oh, I certainly made my fair share of errors. But the congregation managed to forgive me for these, and God […]

Inspiration from the Pray the Gospels

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

Excerpt
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Click here to read all of John 8:12-30
Prayer
Light of the world, shine on me!
Light of the world, shine in my heart, revealing my sin so that I […]

Memories in Pictures, A Few More

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007

Part 6 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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A few men at our Men’s Retreat in the “Whar’s the bar?” skit. A fine tradition of humiliating the newcomers in Christian love.
 

A family working on their craft at our Christmas Craft Night in early […]

Some Memories in Pictures

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Part 5 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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Baptizing a high school girl who became a Christian. Yes, am immersing her (sort of) in a kiddie pool.
 

The Sanctuary of Irvine Presbyterian Church early on Easter morning before the sunrise service.
 

The sanctuary during our […]

Flooded with Gratitude

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

Part 4 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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Every time I sit back and begin to reflect on my last sixteen years of ministry at Irvine Presbyterian Church, I am flooded with gratitude.
At first my mind is filled with images of people, people […]

Pastoring by Grace, Section 2

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

Part 3 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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In my last post I explained my conviction that my pastoral work at Irvine Presbyterian Church was by God’s grace. The gifts and talents that enabled me to be a pastor are themselves evidence of […]

Pastoring by Grace, Section 1

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Part 2 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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I’m calling this series on my pastoring Grace in the Rearview Mirror. As I begin to reflect on my sixteen plus years as pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, the idea of grace comes immediately to […]

Grace in the Rearview Mirror: Introduction

Monday, September 17th, 2007

Part 1 of series: Grace in the Rearview Mirror: A Pastoral Retrospective
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Two weeks from today I will be driving across Arizona on my way to Texas, having said goodbye to California and the life I have known the better part of two decades. After sixteen years […]

Sunday Inspiration from Pray the Psalms

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Excerpt
There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.
Psalm 76:3
Click here to read all of Psalm 76
Prayer
O Lord, it seems sadly ironic that this psalm celebrates Your vanquishing the weapons of war in Jerusalem. Even today, this city You once chose for Your dwelling place is in the center […]
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