E-308 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Hospitality and Sacrificial Servant Leadership
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-307 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Serving on Team Jesus
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
Pastor Appreciation Month: Creative Ways to Show Your Gratitude
BETHANY BELUE | CONTRIBUTOR “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!” Anne of Anne of Green Gables gleefully made this statement as the season changed on beautiful Prince Edward Island in the iconic 1980s movie. Although it might be remembered as a funny statement from a silly adolescent girl in a movie, I don’t think Anne is alone in her sentiments about the month. October is a month that many anticipate with cooler temperatures, pumpkin patches, changing leaves, and the cozy feeling that comes with a new season. Although there is much to anticipate about this month, there is something in our churches that we also have the opportunity to celebrate. October has long been known in the local church as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” I grew up with my dad as my pastor. I remember every October, when Pastor Appreciation Month rolled around, a few of the ruling elders would come to the front and take a few minutes of the service to show appreciation to my dad. I have memories as a young girl of them recognizing him as their pastor and leader of our church. It wasn’t that my dad wasn’t thanked or celebrated at other times in the year, but I have very specific memories of October being set aside as special. My dad is now retired, but when October rolls around each year, I’m reminded of those memories and often think about how it impacted him and our family. Pastors play a lot of roles in a church. They prepare weekly to preach God’s Word to the congregation (sometimes multiple times). They shepherd the hearts of the congregants. They counsel hard situations in people's lives. They reach out to the community to connect with those outside the church. They also often complete many administrative tasks that are very rarely known or seen. The role of a pastor is not 8-5, but can often include early mornings and late nights, interrupted meals, and missed bedtimes with children. But my guess is if you asked your pastor why he signed up for the role, he would say something to the effect of “because God called me to it.” My husband is the assistant pastor at our church, and there have been times I have asked him during hard weeks, “Do you think you want to keep doing this?” Even on the hardest days, his response is always a yes!—not because it’s easy, but because he knows the Lord has called him to this role and the Lord is using him!...
E-306 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Joyfully Receiving Christ and Others
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-305 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Keeping the Main Things the Main Things
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-304 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—A Hospital for the Weak and Wounded
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-303 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Jesus Throws the Best Parties
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-302 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Jesus Quenches our Thirst
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
E-301 Scoot Over: Imitating the Hospitality of Christ—Jesus Gives Us More Than We Need
One definition for hospitality is to make space. [...]
Grief and Lament in Texas: Weeping with Hope
MARISSA BONDURANT | CONTRIBUTOR A cloud of collective grief hovers over Texas. For days after the flood, there was an actual dark cloud over all central Texas as the whole of creation groaned together in the pains of grief and longing (Rom. 8:22). A suppressive force of humidity mixed with shock and stirred with sorrow made it hard to breathe, sleep, or even make basic decisions. Although the headlines focus on the heartache in Texas, I know that this grief is seeping much farther from here. So many of the people who died were visiting from all over the country. Little girls at summer camp. Families camping under majestic cypress trees. Grandparents bunked up with grandchildren to make precious memories over the holiday. And now, thousands of people across the country grieve the loss of loved ones, co-workers, classmates, teammates, neighbors, and friends. Living in San Antonio, the Guadalupe River is considered our backyard play place. Everyone I know is only 1 or 2 degrees away from the devastation. My church alone had three girls at Camp Mystic the day the water rose. A dear friend of ours is on the ground doing recovery work. He’s got a military, warzone, ER doctor background, and he said he’s never seen anything like this. As of the writing this, they expect close to 300 image bearers to eventually be found in the debris. And in this deep, collective grief, we need the Church. We need you....