Our Discussion Forums
Welcome to our Discussion Forums. Forums available for conversation are listed below. Please feel free to join in!
There are currently 486 posts.
Recent comments on pages throughout the site
159. Paying Caesar and Giving to God
Lisa Jean Hoefner wrote on 3/18/2010 9:29:20 PM
I got $3,000 for the year (1975-78) in my student appointment -- I had that rich feeling, too. Until tax time and someone offered to help me with the filing requirements and I reported to them that first they'd have to pay me enough to have to file at all!
Free downloads: Local churches' Five Practices images
Kimberly Hidns wrote on 3/18/2010 11:48:03 AM
Wonderful art work will use for the class I will be teaching.
159. Paying Caesar and Giving to God
Wylda wrote on 3/16/2010 9:19:18 PM
My husband's first pastorate was when he commuted 200 miles to be with us Friday thru Sunday and spent 4 days at Seminary. We found that hamburger at 3 pounds for $1.00 was necessary on $3000 a year. When I dropped a gallon of milk in a glass jug and it broke, it was a family disaster. How do we afford another gallon of milk for our toddler? I believe it strengthened us rather than defeating us.
159. Paying Caesar and Giving to God
Wayne wrote on 3/15/2010 10:28:39 AM
You WERE rich! My starting salary in 1977 was $9000 and we thought we were wealthy then too! Parishioners supplemented my salary with beef and chickens. It took me many years serving small churches to get to a salary of $23,000. Others I'm sure started even lower than I did.
Dianne Cochran wrote on 3/10/2010 9:15:06 AM
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" Psalm 122
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.......
Psalm 100
I love Sunday mornings and Sunday afternoon naps, also.
Chris Gadlage wrote on 3/9/2010 9:27:04 PM
They also added a slash to the end instead of ending with "pdf".
It took a while to figure out, but the links should be:
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_3_xwbi5ham.intentional_faith_development.pdf
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_4_nzxpeues.risk-taking_mission_and_service.pdf
http://5pconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/doug_paysour_5_b66qpx2j.extravagant_generosity.pdf
Chris Gadlage wrote on 3/9/2010 9:22:38 PM
It returns a server error because they left off the server and directory tree information. It is not an error on your system.
The Thief wrote on 3/8/2010 9:21:43 AM
I love Sunday mornings, too, and it's really great reading someone else's reflections on it. It made me disappointed that this is Monday and I have to wait all week for Sunday!
John Clifford wrote on 3/3/2010 6:38:09 PM
Sunday morning -- ah yes! And a lot of it has to do with seeing this as the FIRST day of the week, the day to set the tone for the other six days! God sets us up with a fresh start, and we too often see it as the "week-end." Even after 40 years preaching, there is an excitement to new beginnings!
Susan Jespersen wrote on 3/1/2010 1:09:27 PM
Me, too! Thank you, Bishop.
Greg Bright wrote on 3/1/2010 1:02:46 PM
I also love Sundays at church. But I know that 70% or more of Americans don't feel the same way and they're much more interested in spending their Sunday mornings doing something else. They have either not had the "Sunday morning church" experience or have been turned off by it. This is true even in congregations that are good at the "Five Practices." Why do you think this is?
Pastor Susan wrote on 2/24/2010 5:14:31 PM
During Lent we are working on understanding the basics of Christian life. My thoughts keep circling around repentance and how one really does repent and then experience the freedom of God's forgiveness. I can certainly understand how developing one's faith takes the same type of discipline that developing more muscle mass takes. Thank you for making faith so clear and for taking away the mystery.
Leslie Martin wrote on 2/23/2010 7:35:59 PM
Sermons still cannot be opened!!!
Cokesbury Teachable Study Guide
Elizabeth wrote on 2/17/2010 12:11:20 PM
I can't get this study guide to open.
Free downloads: Local churches' Five Practices images
Wayne wilson wrote on 2/16/2010 2:24:19 PM
The image was displayed by Adobe but I was not able to save it to a disk to take to Office Max to have posters made. Any suggestions?
156. Creating Openings for God
Sally McGinnis (Holt UMC) wrote on 2/15/2010 6:04:29 PM
Holt UMC will be having dinner dates with God and go through Phillip Yancey's study, "What's So Amazing about Grace".
Thank you for your encouragement through the blog and also as you lead our pastors. I really enjoyed the article in the Methodist Report on the pastors training.
God bless you and your cabinet. They are a blessing to our conference.
156. Creating Openings for God
Andy Bryan wrote on 2/15/2010 3:36:37 PM
Campbell UMC is using the theme "How is it with your soul?" this Lent. Sunday morning worship will use Psalms that talk about soul or spirit or heart, inner expressions of longing and devotion.
We are adding a Sunday evening worship service during the season, also.
156. Creating Openings for God
Nancy K. Kincaid wrote on 2/15/2010 2:49:11 PM
Well, your words of wisdom have been missed. Welcome back.
During the Lenten season, my husband and I will be experiencing, up close and personal, The 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations, as we seek a new church home. We are listening to God and to our hearts on this journey. A door will be opened.
Free downloads: Local churches' Five Practices images
paula wrote on 2/15/2010 2:46:00 PM
Thank you!!
Becoming 'like next door neighbors' transforms church
PAULA wrote on 2/15/2010 2:43:58 PM
I know Jeff and Chris and their love for God and people. They're the real thing!
God is using them and their church as wonderful examples of God's renewal when we make the gospel relevant to the people God has placed around us.
Amelia Thrift Store's mission keeps growing
Mae Leader wrote on 2/1/2010 3:22:23 PM
This is a story that needs to be told and shown in all of our churches. Our church, too, had a small group of people who acted in faith and started a Thrift Shop, but through the years has lost sight of the original purpose which was to enlarge their mission giving. The lesson that the more you give , the more you receive, is being missed and it is my belief that it is stunting the growth of our church.
Worship skits, Sunday school tools and forms for creative planning
Glenna Lybrand wrote on 1/31/2010 5:08:10 PM
As leader for Passionate Worship in our church, I found St. Johns' skits and reflection sheet to be very helpful. Thanks so much for making them available online. I also love the poster!
Carolyn Belshe wrote on 1/19/2010 9:54:46 PM
Loosing two colleagues in the rubble, seeing babies rescued, yet seeing bodies being buried in open multi count graves, just seeking God's Peace in the turmoil. Then, to see the workings of so many doing so much to help. Such thankfulness as the French government forgives the slave prices that the country had been paying for, for so many years! My prayer continues for our church and others to share in the gospel through social works of education, health care, ministries of varying kinds to push the black magic holding such power over Haiti for so long, to push it out and reclaim its people's soul with Peace. Thank you Bishop - a pastor of pastors, a shepherd of a people. Clint and Sam have caused the world's eyes to turn their hearts in the direction of healing of a calamity by breathing life into a country of people who have suffered so long.
Susan Marner-Sides wrote on 1/19/2010 6:33:21 PM
" ... any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."
John Donne, 1624
Max Marble wrote on 1/19/2010 4:52:37 PM
I have been out on the road around our conference this whole past week and our conference is mourning this sad news and your post is most helpful for this important process. Audrey, Jeff and I were on a conference call with Clint a couple of weeks ago with suggestions for the new VIM manual he was working on. I met Clint as we travel together in Mozambique 11 years ago. We do celebrate his life.