Welcome! Please come in. To be human is to wonder and wander; it strongly suggests that we are not really and fully at home. Now for some deeper thinking. "I Wonder As I Wander" is a Christmas carol written by folklorist and singer Jacob Niles on July 16, 1933. Take a moment to wonder more deeply. Watch, listen or sing along as you think.

How to Handle Christmas

"And there were in that same country children keeping watch over their socks by firelight. And lo, Santa Claus came upon them, and the glory of his presence shone 'round about them, and they were enthralled. And Santa said unto them, 'Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great gifts which will be to all people with money to afford them. For unto you is cooking this day in the oven of your kitchen a turkey which is surrounded by pudding and cakes, and this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the gifts wrapped in sparkling paper and lying in a pile under the tree.' And suddenly there was with the children a multitude of earthly relatives, praising each other and saying, 'Thank you, this is just what I wanted.' And it came to pass as Santa and the relatives were gone away into their own homes, the parents said one to another, 'Let us go even unto bed to avoid the mess which the kids and guests have made known to us.' And they came with haste and found peace, quiet, and rest lying in a bed until morning."

Doesn't really sound like Christmas, does it? But this does. Luke 2:25-32 [read more]

One of the best things we can do for our teaching staff (Sunday School, Midweek, etc.) is to teach them. We have found that meeting twice a month for training really pays big dividends. We suggest a two hour session twice a month preferably with the pastor doing the teaching. The enthusiasm and instruction from the pastor is critical. Remember that the old rule-of-thumb is still good today: a teacher should know ten times as much as the students and have a very meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. We like this breakdown:

• A one hour detailed study of the text for the following Sunday including application of text for the teachers and then the students.
• Thirty minutes on methodology. First know what to teach and then how to teach.
• Last thirty minutes on problem solving and brainstorming.

Zig Ziglar once said, "A goal properly set is halfway reached."

J. C. Penney once said, "Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll show you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk."

Set goals for yourself and your congregation. Make each goal a positive statement. Make the goals precise. Have a lot of goals, but priortize them. If you've not been setting goals, start now, for December and for next year. Write them down, including how you plan to reach each goal. If the goal is large, break it down to incremental steps.

Stack of Stuff

How It All Started

7 Ways God Will Evaluate Your Faithfulness

"Pete, I'm leaving the church," my wife, Geri, muttered quietly. I sat still, too stunned to respond. "I can't take any more of this stress - the constant crises," she continued. "This church is no longer life for me. It is death."

I remember the day well. When a church member says, "I'm leaving the church," most pastors don't feel very good. But when your wife of nine years says it, your world is turned upside down. "I no longer respect your leadership."

"That is out of the question," I bellowed. "All right, so I've made a few mistakes." But she calmly continued, "It's not that simple. You don't have the guts to lead - to confront the people who need to be confronted. You don't lead. You're too afraid that people will leave the church."

This encounter led me to a Christian counselor's office.

A Time to Laugh... or Cry (Free Bible Study)

1. In the Beginning With Adam and Eve
2. In the Garden When Everything Went Wrong
3. At the Flood With Noah
4. When God Made A Promise to Abraham
5. When Abraham Faced the Supreme Test
6. When Jacob Received the Biggest Blessing
7. With Joseph the Slave, the Prisoner, and the Prime Minister
8. When God Called Moses to Lead Israel
9. When Israel Was Saved by the Blood of the Lamb
10. When God Gave the Law on Sinai