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<img alt="angel" src="http://vineyardmen.typepad.com/men_of_the_vineyard/images/angel.jpg&quot; width="300" height="207" border="0" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /”It is destined for all men to die once, and after that comes the judgment.” The writer of Hebrew spoke with certainty. The brother to whom I have been ministering in recent weeks had his appointment with death at 11:55 am lastContinueContinue reading “The appointment with Death”

This morning when I awoke and started reading the Scripture the Holy Spirit brought to mind something I said yesterday for which I needed to ask forgiveness. A comment I made to a new Champaign-Urbana pastor was offensive, and I regretted saying it. I already have called the person and asked for forgiveness, which isContinueContinue reading “Confession of Sin”

This past weekend I read Carol Kent’s book When I lay My Isaac Down — Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (NavPress, 2004). Kent’s son (Jason Paul) was a committed Christian, an exemplary graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and on his way to a career as a Navy officer.He married a young woman named AprilContinueContinue reading “Lay it down, brothers!”

A few weeks ago I met a brother who is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, and today I had the great honor of baptizing his three daughters. (The picture here is of a young soldier being baptized in a make-shift baptismal pool somewhere in Iraq.) The brother in the final stages of cancerContinueContinue reading “3 lunch-time baptisms in an Urbana bathtub”

With the University of Illinois and public and Christian school about to crank up, it feels like the anxiety level in Champaign-Urbana has gone up precipitously in the last week. From Archibald Hart’s The Anxiety Cure (Word Publishing, 1999), here are 10 ridiculous things you can say to a person with anxiety (or to yourself,ContinueContinue reading “Anxiety producing waters ahead”

Jennifer and I were among about 15 couples who took the 7-week marriage course this summer.It is a terrific course featuring Nicky and Sila Lee from the Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London. That’s the same church where ALPHA orginated.The course costs $70 and includes a relaxing candle-light dinner (the food was delicious), privacy andContinueContinue reading “The Marriage Course”

My text for this Sunday evening’s 703 service is James 5:1-6. Ever read it? Whew! Those who hoard money (v 1), acquire wealth by dishonest means (v 4), live luxuriously (v 5) and oppress the righteous by lording it over them (v 6), come out very poorly.The Apostle Paul is very clear in his instructionsContinueContinue reading “James 5 and amassing wealth”

I always have a sense of dread as August rolls around. Mostly I think it’s the nervousness that has stayed with me since I headed off to Kindergarten. When I see all those cars heading south down Lincoln Ave. going to the University of Illinois residence halls, I suddenly get nervous. I look at theContinueContinue reading “August is an emotionally charged month”