Author Archives: Don Follis

"Longing" is Advent’s most sobering theme.  Here we embrace the tension of longing for the coming Christ-child in a manger while longing for the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  This longing has caused me to ponder some of the atrocities in the world (as noted in the pictureContinueContinue reading “Do you ever Long for the Return of Christ?”

On November 21, the Sunday before the beginning of Advent, my wife and I facilitated a class here at the Vineyard on how to celebrate during the Advent season. We gathered ideas and props we have used for more than 15 years and had a fun give and take with the 20 people who attended.DuringContinueContinue reading “What present does Jesus want?”

Ask almost any Christian, at least in the United States, who they admire most in the Christian world, and you may likely hear:  Billy Graham.  With good reason, too.  Graham has been faithfully preaching the gospel for 60+ years.  Now in his mid-80s, he’s still preaching, having just completed a crusade in Kansas City aContinueContinue reading “Evangelical, born again, empowered evangelical or just plain old
Christian?”

I pulled into Hardees just west of Indianapolis this morning for coffee, orange juice and a biscuit.   An 18-inch artificial Christmas tree sat on the counter beside the cash register.  Behind me in line stood two men, both wearing Big O Tires jackets.  Outside the windows I noticed the Big O Tires store just toContinueContinue reading “Christmas, Hardees and thinking about dying”

One of the great Advent themes is watching … watching and waiting for the coming Messiah.  We celebrate the birth of baby Jesus,  as we watch for the return of the reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Consider the Gospel reading below:Matthew 2440 Then two men will be in the field; one willContinueContinue reading “Watching for both the birth and the return of Jesus Christ”

I am very pleased to invite you to our December men’s prayer breakfast this Saturday, December 4 (7:45am-10am).Entrepreneur, businessman and great idea man Tim Hoerr will speak on the topic:  The Road Less Traveled:  Challenges Men Face in Living Out Their purposes.Tim is incredibly thoughtful.  I can’t think of a better way to start yourContinueContinue reading “The Road less traveled: Challenges men face in living out their purposes”

I have enjoyed conversations with our Senior Pastor Happy Leman about the importance of managing ourselves.  At the very least, this kind of self-management means setting high standards for our own behavior and holding ourselves accountable.  It also means having — or learning — what are commonly known as "people skills."  Happy has said moreContinueContinue reading “Yes, we all need emotional intelligence!”

Brothers,Guess what I just found out?  Pam Larson, one of our community life pastors, is working on starting a weblog for the women of the Vineyard.  I think that’s great.  As soon as her site gets up and running, I’ll let you know.  I’ve gotten to know Pam and Kevin Larson much better this year. ContinueContinue reading “Women of the Vineyard to have their own weblog”