A Weekend to Remember

A few years ago, Teff and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary by attending a Weekend to Remember gathering in another city. We realized we hadn’t been away alone together since having children. For us, it seemed like there was always a little one in the house to tend to, home school to teach or church work for me to do that continued to prevent it. Finally, however, the time was right, and off we went for four days!

Weekend to Remember is sponsored by a ministry called Family Life, but it’s like many other marriage enrichment weekends. You and your spouse get away together in order to spend time talking and working on your marriage. An experienced couple also leads the sessions, which are both humorous and inspirational.

I must say, that weekend was awesome for us! Our marriage wasn’t necessarily in trouble, but we understood that every marriage can use intentional effort. After our experience, I began then to think about what a delight it would be for Covenant to host such a marriage enrichment event. Guess what? The time has come! Read more »

Getting Christmas

“I get it, I get it!”

The joy and volume of her outburst distracted my attention as I stood nearby, but I was glad. This all happened on Main Street last weekend after our Saturday night service as folks mingled. What I quickly came to understand was that this lady was a new believer, and she had just figured out Christmas. How cool is that?

Apparently she, like a lots of folks, had grown up thinking that Christmas was about Santa, gifts and family. She had never really understood that Christmas was about the Father’s love and pursuit of her. She had not grasped that Jesus had humbly become a human to rescue her from her sins and restore her heart. I wish you could have seen her face beam—from “death to life” was written all over it.

I don’t know all the elements that led to her redemption, but let me suggest the likely scenario—one that is being repeated more and more often at Covenant. Read more »

Faith Acceleration

Share with us how God has been using the InTENtional for 10 focus to accelerate your faith:

“During this 10-week period, I have experienced a tremendous amount of spiritual growth. I honestly feel closer to the Lord than I ever have at any time in my 40 years on this Earth. My children and I are taking to heart each of the 10 elements. The blessings and inner peace that we have enjoyed have been nothing short of amazing. We are closer as a family than we have ever been. During this 10 for 10 period, I have felt the Lord call me to fulfill my His Heart, Our Dream commitment made in 2006. Mind you that when this commitment was made, I was in a double income situation. Since that time, I am in a single income situation, and I have taken a 12% pay cut. Read more »

Waving Gifts

It’s one of the most unusual stories in the whole Bible. Moses has led the children of Israel, God’s people, out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and out into the desert on their way to the Promised Land of Canaan. On their way, they camp at Mt. Sinai, and God gives Moses the 10 commandments along with instructions for how the people are to live and worship as God’s chosen people.

One of the instructions is to build a Tabernacle, a dwelling for God and a place of worship. Moses announces that anyone who is willing can give to the building of God’s house. Exodus 35 reports that “all who were willing” gave from what they had. People were thrilled to give a gift to the Lord from what they had: gold, silver, jewelry, expensive clothes, gemstones, spices, olive oil, and perfumes. People wanted to thank God for his provision in their lives, and for the journey so far, and mostly, they wanted to bless God with gifts.

The amazing part of the story is that the people gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop. That’s right; the Bible actually says that Moses had to restrain the people from giving. That is hard to imagine, isn’t it? Read more »

Who was I today?

I did not know I was that arrogant. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)

Having spent the last 48 hours in the Dominican Republic with a team of 10 women (and yes, I still covet your prayers!), I am convinced God has schooled me in a new chapter on what it means to serve others. This is not the first time I’ve been in a third-world nation, nor is it the first time I’ve seen this level of poverty. But it is the first time I’ve recognized the pride and arrogance of my American-culture-driven background like this.

I came here with the team to film and document the story as well as catch images to help cast vision for the DR in the months to come. And I knew that I would be in situations with people here where I could “give” them something or “help” them. After all, since we come from such a blessed nation, surely we have something to offer them. I mean, seriously, don’t we have all the answers?

Slaps in the face hurt. Read more »

Trapped in the “bubble”

My oldest son, Charles, recently completed a training school in Texas as a first step towards being a church planter. It was a rigorous 9-month program designed to strengthen the character of students and help them establish Christ-like disciplines in their life.

Initially, I was not surprised as I learned about the specific expectations of the training school. In fact, it reminded me of my own experience in seminary. All the students were expected to be reading the Bible from cover to cover; there were a number of biblical subjects to be mastered; each was expected to be in a discipleship relationship with a mentor and be a leader within an ongoing ministry of the church–nothing too surprising there.

As I learned more, though, I started to get uncomfortable. Read more »

Intentional for 10: Week 8

We’re almost there! There is much excitement around here as we approach the Dec 19/20 special offering. With stories of personal sacrifice choices people and families have made, it is inspiring and motivating to be part of what God is doing in our hearts and in our congregation.

Here are the next 10 ideas for Intentional for 10: Read more »