Is death the end? Holding on to love that outlasts loss
Is death the end? Earl S. Johnson, Jr. shares a story of grief, God, and how love’s presence endures beyond loss.
More Stories from this Author
The Spirit of Hope: Theology for a World in Peril
Jürgen Moltmann Westminster John Knox Press, 232 pages Reviewed by Earl S. Johnson Jr. The title of Jürgen Moltmann’s recent book provides..
The Confession of 1967: Fifty years and still counting
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the approval of the Confession of 1967, a milestone that brought the church a contemporary..
Simple and complex faith and the believing scientist
When simple faith is enough When it comes to science we all know something about its theories and practical applications. Even if..
Count Me
The three in me, was, is, might be, an unholy trinity. Each singularity a crossed humanity factored by duality. The sixfold choices,..
Remember your ordination vows: Don’t give up on peacemaking
At this critical moment in the life of our denomination, especially following the 222nd meeting of the General Assembly, it..
Honorably rewired
What can you do with a pastor when he/ she stops being a pastor? This question is a paraphrase of Bing..
What’s right with your church?
During the past few years it has been fashionable to be openly critical of the Christian church in general and the Presbyterian..
Sticky preaching
What makes sermons stick for you? How do you know a good one? If the preacher makes you feel spiritually stimulated and..
A Markan model for Ministry: Going to the other side
A few years ago it was popular to urge church leaders to “think outside the box” in their long-range plans for ministry...
The church, God and climate change
In the recent film, “The Theory of Everything,” the brilliance, determination and courage of the astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is dramatically portrayed. A..
The coming storm: Call for a radical form of eco-justice tithe
At the recent joint annual meetings in November of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) and the Academy of Religion (AAR) in..
Show me your newsletter and I will show you your faith
How well does your church communicate with members and people in your community? One of the most important public faces of who..
Raising the roof
In J.D. Salinger’s novella “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters,” traditional ways of thinking are challenged as the main character deals with..
Hospitality: Ways to welcome newcomers
Most congregations are interested (if not desperate) to have new people attend worship and eventually join the church. The problem is that..
The new pastor’s first year: Part 1
What should a teaching elder and the session try to accomplish in the first year of ministry? If people think that the..
Nine preliminary questions for a PNC
The task of selecting a new pastor is formidable and challenging for many members and, for some, downright scary. It requires considerable..
Beyond addiction
Most church leaders are well aware of ministries sponsored across the country to the 22 million Americans who need help dealing with..
Pass the snakes: How Presbyterians read Scripture
Recently there has been quite a bit of discussion about the incident in the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Middlesboro, Kentucky, where a..
The Presbyterian deacon
For those who love people and want to follow in the ministry of Jesus Christ, there is no better office to assume than that of deacon in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
How are visitors greeted in your congregation on Christmas Eve?
The answer to this question will vary in Presbyterian churches, and the way in which we respond reflects our most fundamental attitude toward outreach and evangelism. Almost every congregation desires church growth and sets it as a primary long-range goal, but sometimes our behavior prevents the very thing we say we seek.
I have a vivid memory from a Christmas Eve service when I was a boy in my home church. The pastor welcomed the congregation with words something like, "I want to wish many of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a joyous Easter, a pleasant Fourth of July, and a Happy Thanksgiving because I know that I will not be seeing most of you for another year!" Maybe, in Daniel Powter's words, he "had a bad day." However, even as a child I knew this attitude was unfeeling and insensitive, and as a pastor I have never even thought, much less said, such a thing during any service I have led.
The top ten responsibilities of the session
Looking at the Book of Order, Earl S. Johnson Jr. outlines the role of the session — a board of elders that guides a Presbyterian church.
Bees and vinegar: How should elders treat people?
A woman who lives near the church likes to walk her dogs in the Rockwood State Forest. One day her two Labs disappeared into the brush and a minute later one of them came flying through the air, collapsing in a whining heap on the trail. He had encountered a mother bear and her two cubs in the blackberry bramble and she was not happy to make his acquaintance. The dog survived after all the puncture wounds in his neck healed. Truly he was well shaken and stirred.
This story reminded me of the old saying I used to hear a lot as a youngster: "It is easier to catch bees with honey than with vinegar." It is hard to know where it comes from, but it makes a lot of sense.
Of course, it is also possible to snare bears with honey and we all know how to be tough on people we meet when necessary. Personally, I prefer honey when I have the choice.