Nehemiah 12:43 reads, “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God has made them rejoice with great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. And the joy or Jerusalem was heard far away.” We are having one…
“Greatful for Your Preaching”
One of the best parts of being a pastor is having a front row seat as parents teach their children about the preaching of the Word of God. This morning my friend, Jaxen (the blond little boy pictured below with…
The Pastoral Privilege of Telling Our Flock When Jesus Will Return
Scripture gives us very specific information about when Jesus will return. Pastors are privileged to remind their flocks of this truth. I called on one of our older folks today. It is the nicest day of the year in Stillman…
Calvin: The preaching of the Word serves “To make our faith firm and steadfast, even to our dying day”
I am thankful that during my sabbatical I leave our pulpit in the capable hands of men like Mike Wittmer, Bob Bixby, and Jeremy Scott. I remind our flock that we need to hear the Word preached, even to our…
Some Very Exciting (by our standards) Brauns Announcements, including a move to Switzerland
Brauns highlights for 2010 (D.V.!). We are thankful for your prayers. Okay, the move to Switzerland is temporary. Our church is giving me a sabbatical this summer (not to be confused with vacation – – see a Matt Schmucker article…
Here’s to First Grade Sunday School Teachers – – May Their Tribe Increase
If you’re looking for the world’s greatest Sunday School teachers, they are teaching my little girl’s class at The Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL. My six year old, Mary Beth – who loves to get mail –- received…
Hope Children’s Center in Africa
Those of you from our church will be encouraged to know that you can read more about the orphanage project that Jeff Dodge described in church Sunday here. I think Jeff did a great job identifying the central challenge of…
A Slice of Stillman Valley
Eugene Peterson wrote in Under the Unpredictable Plant that pastoral visits are:
. . . occasions for original research on the stories being shaped in their lives by the living Christ. I go to these appointments with the same diligence and curiousity that I bring to a page of Isaiah’s oracles, a tangled argument in St. Paul . . .
I love doing the original research of studying the lives of our people. Exegeting the stories of our small town is one of my greatest joys. I wrote the following newsletter article after a visit last week.
Being a Pastor in Stillman Valley
The seminary I attended for a Masters of Divinity asked me to write an update . . . that’s a tough thing to do. What does one choose? You can see my answer on the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary web page.