Have you ever thought of the people who missed the first Christmas? The Bible shares how some people who were alive when Jesus was born didn’t experience it. I’ve heard a number of sermons on the topic and thought I’d share some of my observations. LET’S TALK Theirs is a cautionary tale about our Christmas….
Grateful or Grumpy?
You’ve heard the joke: A wife is asked, “Did you wake up grumpy this morning?” She replies, “No, I let him sleep in!” Ha! Ha! Well, I confess, I can be grumpy at times, especially during COVID. Yet, I know that is not God’s best. The Bible says that we are to “give thanks in…
“Quotes from Conference”
This morning we completed our Annual Conference at Valley View Church! We had a wonderful two and a half days of fellowship, worship and learning! Dan Kimball of The ReGeneration Project challenged and encouraged us during the Break Out Sessions and in the evening gathering. Here are a few quotes from Conference! They are not…
Getting Ready for Annual Conference
GOOD MORNING! Next week we gather for our Annual Conference in Portland, November 15-17. Last year we were online, but we get to gather in person this year – I can hardly wait. The theme of the Conference is “Real Church.” COVID has caused us to step back and reevaluate what church is all about….
Why Belong to the Pacific Conference
Many pastors and churches have wondered about the value of belonging to a Conference of churches (and our Denomination). Before anyone becomes defensive, that’s a legitimate and important question. Why should we be together? LET’S TALK… This is not just a newbie concern. During my time as Superintendent, two of our oldest congregations have…
Eight Ways a Pastor Can Be Refreshed
Have you taken the time to thank your pastor? Peter Drucker, one of the world’s greatest leadership experts, once listed what he considered the four hardest jobs in the world. Here are those four: President of the United States, a university president, a CEO of a hospital, and a pastor. That’s incredible. If he’s right,…
Give Your Pastor Joy
October is Pastor Appreciation Month! As we reflect on our years in ministry, we remember how often people encouraged us. Hebrews 13:17 talks about being a joy to your leaders. For many pastors, joy has been illusive as they cope with extra stress from the pandemic and polarization in our churches. A recent survey indicated that…
Lessons from a Sabbatical
Part 3 “CHURCH & CULTURE” Remember that finger motion rhyme we learned as kids? It was called, Here is the Church. It went something like this… Here is the church (fold hands, fingers inside)And here is the steeple (index fingers up)Open the doors (thumbs apart)And see all the people (wiggle inside fingers) That was so fun to do! Sadly,…
Lessons from a Sabbatical
Part 2 “REFLECTION & DIRECTION” Another takeaway from our Sabbatical was the need for reflection. Reflection doesn’t solve problems; in fact, sometimes it reveals them. A Sabbatical is not a cure-all for all that ails us, but a time to seriously think through where you are in life and what God has for you in…
Lessons from a Sabbatical
Part 1 “REST & RENEWAL” Taking a Sabbatical is a privilege. Most people don’t have the time nor resources to take an extended time off. I want to thank the Conference and the team that made it possible for us to take nine weeks off. Our Sabbatical centered around four important elements: Renewal, Family, Insight,…
Covid Challenges
Yes, we are back and refreshed from our Sabbatical! Thank you for letting us get away! We also came back to continued concerns about COVID. The Delta variant continues to spread. I’m hearing from our pastors that more people have gotten sick from this new wave than ever before. And while the list of symptoms…
Getting to Know Our Churches (Part Nine)
Our Conference theme for 2021 is Real Church. It only seemed appropriate to remind ourselves of what it truly means to be the church as we begin to walk through (what we hope is) post-pandemic. What we learned over the past year and more is that the church is not the building, it is not…
Coffee with Randy 