tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:22:15 +0000churchFaithChurch GrowthDonald MillerMusicReadingSinStoriesfamilyAppointmentChangeChristianDavid AdamDuke Divinity SchoolEd StetzerFutureGodHolinessHoly SpiritLentMarriagePhariseePoliticsPrayerResolutionsU2WorshipYoung adults"Mid-Course Correction""The Shack"12 StepsAccountabilityAge 50Andrew ZuckermanAngerAnne LamottAnne LomottAnniversaryAsh WednesdayBattleBeerBiographiesBirdsBirthdayBluesBookBooksBrokenBruce CockburnBumperstickersC.S. LewisCCMCalvaryCellphonesCharacterChonda PierceChrist FollowerChrist SufferingChristian BehaviorChristmasChruchChurch RevitalizationCircumcisionCoffee MugCollegeColonCommunionComplacencyComputer VirusConferenceConnectingContemporaryConversationCostCourse of StudyDan FogelbergDaughterDave BarryDavid and GoliathDeathDiscipleshipDonal Miller blogDoubtEucharistFacebookFall FoliageFinancial crisesFireflyFlightFollowing JesusGavin BryarsGlorifying GodGod's GraceGod's WaysGod's WordGod's presenceGorden McDonaldGraceGreat CommandmentGreat CommissionGreedGrowing UpGrowthGuy timeHoward SnyderHymnsIntimacy with GodJohn FischerJohn Mark McMillanJohn OrtbergJohn WesleyJokeJoshuaJoshua 1Joshua 3Joshua 4Joshua 5Joshua 6JudgingLarry NormanLectio DivinaLibrariesLifeLifestyleListenMac vs. PC ParodyMatthew 12:38MemoriesMemoryMid-lifeMiley CyrusMinistryMissionMoralityMotherMovingMySpaceObedienceOrchastra PieceOrganismOrganizationOwnershipPastPessimismPlane crashPreachingPresentPsalm 44PurifyPurposeRahabRetreatRev. Jeremiah WrightRomansRulesSarah McMillanSharingSmall GroupsSnowSpiritual LifeSpiritual growthStillnessStonesSubmissionTea MugTestimonyTextingThe NonesTheologyThom RainerTony CompoloTraditionalTrustUnderstanding GodUnlikely PeoplVBSVultureWhitewaterWifeWisdomZombiesbeginningscultureescapepersonal timerelationshipssayingssuccessthe LectionarytransformationtravelstripsThe thoughts, questions and ponderings of one who is on a holy pilgrimage towards faith, truth and the joy of life, family and ministry.http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)Blogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-4551483356380570185Wed, 23 Apr 2014 23:57:00 +00002014-04-23T19:57:09.280-04:00I have decided that I'm not a hat person. I want to wear a hat, and I've been looking for just the right kind of hat for a long while but I have yet to find one that fits my head in such a way that I can look in the mirror and go, "Ahh, that's it!" Instead, it's usually, "Ahh, no. Not that one." I say that, sometimes even out loud and, on occasion, my wife can be heard agreeing with me or http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2014/04/hats-cats-and-thats-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-520700290240563072Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:19:00 +00002013-04-25T23:19:23.744-04:00CellphonesConnectingZombiesI got a new phone yesterday. My wife and youngest daughter will be getting theirs next week, which is why I went ahead and upgraded mine, since our package and monthly bill was going to change whether I upgraded or not, because the ladies were upgrading. Turns out, in the long run, my monthly cellphone bill will be actually noticeably lower. I had the sales guy recheck it three times. Now, how http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2013/04/attack-of-phone-zombies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-3591347568891798909Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:25:00 +00002013-04-25T09:40:16.214-04:00churchConversationEd StetzerJohn WesleySmall GroupsThe NonesThom RainerYoung adults(I haven't blogged in a long while. It's not that I haven't had anything to say, it's just that I've had difficulty blogging about what has been on my mind. If I could attach something to my brain that would write down the conversations and thoughts that go on up there, it would make things so much easier. I have preached some of my  best sermons in my head or car and I have had amazing http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2013/02/doing-church-differently.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-7627428196225353038Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:28:00 +00002012-05-31T20:36:34.106-04:00Christian BehaviorJudgingPharisee OK, I'll be the first to admit that doing a blog post that consists of quotes from a book (again) is probably the lazy persons way of doing things, and there might be some small truth to this, but it really is more than that. As I mentioned in my last post, I've been reading John Fischer's book, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee" and it has some really good things to say about us http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/12/walking-in-another-persons-flip-flops.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-1844403744172445852Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:40:00 +00002011-12-20T15:40:46.370-05:0012 StepsJohn FischerPhariseeMany, many years ago, back in the early 80's, during the first stage of my life as a minister, I did a sermon series entitled, "Me, a Pharisee?" It was a rather pointed message, more pointed that it should have been, at times, and made a few folks upset with me. It wasn't that I wasn't preaching the truth, I was, but you can sometimes preach the truth/Gospel in a way that cracks open peoples http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/12/me-pharisee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-3611004248554629688Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:12:00 +00002011-11-28T15:12:52.177-05:00FaithGod's WaysJoshua 6Obedience Click here to read Joshua 6 We are in a battle. It is around us, it concerns us, it involves us, and it impacts us. The Church is in the midst of that battle and every follower of Christ is being attacked on a daily basis. Our souls are the prize being fought for. It is an external battle but it is an internal one, and eternal one, as well. Some days we serve on one side and otherhttp://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/11/gods-holy-hand-grenade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-814403965075535056Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +00002011-11-07T11:04:51.426-05:00Fall FoliageGod's GraceMatthew 12:38I love the season of Autumn. I also love the season of Spring. I like Summer, but it gets so hot down here in the mid-south and I tend to stay in doors more than being out, though there is nothing like slipping into a pool or a stream or a lake on a hot summer day. Winter is OK but it's pretty grey in the south and usually white way too long in the north. So, I'm much more connected with Spring http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/11/colors-of-fall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-3201916416444853031Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:33:00 +00002011-11-01T18:06:57.290-04:00BattleCircumcisionJoshua 5SubmissionWorshipClick here to read Joshua 5 I've been sitting on this 5th chapter for over a week now. It's been one of those chapters that just wasn't flowing right in my head - not that anything flows right in my head but let's move on. As I thought about the first verse the realization came to me that, because I am in Christ, all the enemies that I face in my life - physical or spiritual - are defeated foes.http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/11/foreskin-spare-skin-and-bare-skin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-4639769725537548063Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:00:00 +00002011-10-19T17:00:02.757-04:00Joshua 4MemoryStonesClick here to read Joshua 4 I can't help but think that when Joshua told the 12 men to go and pick up a stone and bring it back to the camp that there was at least one that thought about getting a little stone, one that would be easy to carry. At least, that would be what would go through my mind!  There are a lot of things that serve as "memory stones" in our lives. Pictures, videos, http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/10/memory-stones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-4950380003428364359Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:44:00 +00002011-10-13T07:52:31.069-04:00HolinessJoshua 3ListenPurifyClick here to read Joshua 3 The spies have made it back, thanks to Rahab, and the next morning Joshua and the people head over to the Jordan River to set up camp for a few days. Something's in the works, there's a plan being put together and people are beginning to get the word: when they see the priests pass by with the Ark of the Covenant, they are to fall in line - at a distance - and follow http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/10/stop-drop-and-listen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-5863801519604214270Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:18:00 +00002011-10-06T00:30:29.576-04:00JoshuaRahabUnlikely PeoplClick here to read Joshua 2. I remember sitting in youth group one Sunday when I was a teen when this passage of scripture was read for the lesson that was about to be taught. What first caught the attention of a couple of us was verse 1: Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/10/most-unlikely-person.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-211056720993644462Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:52:00 +00002011-10-01T12:02:46.293-04:00BirdsDavid and GoliathFlightVulture I like to sit outside on my porch and have my devotions, do some reading and thinking, and drink my cup(s) of tea. I also like to watch the birds around my house. We have a bird feeder just a little ways from the back deck and a Hummingbird feeder on the deck, and it's fun and interesting to watch the different types of birds come and go. Green Hummingbirds with a light ring around their neck, http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/10/birds-of-air.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-1966922590345082058Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:52:00 +00002011-09-29T11:07:40.842-04:00CharacterFaithJoshua 1I've been doing a reflective reading of the book of Joshua over the last several weeks. Not a daily thing but at least weekly. Not an in-depth study of text structures and historical comparison and such, just a reflective reading. Hears what I do: I sit down, open my Bible to the chapter that is up next (or I use eSword on my computer), and ask God to speak to me through what http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/09/be-strong-and-courageous.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-4480778546425239339Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:26:00 +00002011-09-28T13:03:50.262-04:00BrokenCoffee MugCollegeMemoriesTea MugThere are things that we hold dear in our lives that have special meaning. A photograph, a special album, maybe an article of clothing or a piece of furniture. I still have many photographs that I occasionally look through, smiling from the memories that come flooding over me. I don't have but a handful of albums (LP's) now, and none really hold any great significance to me, though I have a few http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/09/good-cup-in-hand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-3925025075049652860Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:02:00 +00002011-07-18T19:08:55.946-04:00BeerTheologySo, here I am at Course of Study at Emory/Candlar in Atlanta, having deep discussions about theology, the Wesleyan Movement, doctrine and faith issues and I find it fascinating, challenging, insightful, stirring, inspiring, and, at times, a little confusing. I guess these classes are serving their purpose, right? Anyway, I check out a YouTube clip that a friend brought my attention to of a http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/07/15-reasons-why-beer-is-better-than.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-5007048142636508126Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:45:00 +00002011-07-09T09:45:17.507-04:00CostDiscipleshipFollowing Jesus(Jesus) is something—someone—worth losing everything for. And if we walk away from the Jesus of the gospel, we walk away from eternal riches. The cost of nondiscipleship is profoundly greater for us than the cost of discipleship. For when we abandon the trinkets of this world and respond to the radical invitation of Jesus, we discover the infinite treasure of knowing and experiencing him. - http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2011/07/quote-about-discipleship.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-6007126654256815092Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:17:00 +00002010-11-12T18:17:00.462-05:00churchcultureHoward SnydertransformationCame across this quote a little while ago as I was doing some reading and continued prep work on my sermon series, "Why Bother with the Church?" It's by Howard A. Snyder from his book, "The Community of the King."So the Church is not to be understood primarily as a means to the end of transforming society. This would be to trample over the uniqueness and infinite worth to God of the Christian http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/11/church-as-transforming-society.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-6239999192465196024Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:20:00 +00002010-09-04T22:20:08.538-04:00Just so my blog won't close up on me from lack of use, I submit these videos for your viewing pleasure: First up, guitarist and singer Bruce Cockburn. Here he just plays guitar: And now, a little comedy music: http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/09/little-music-and-laugh.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-8904697523438849717Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:35:00 +00002010-07-13T20:44:04.957-04:00AnniversaryBruce CockburnMarriageWell, I'm in the second week of schooling here at Duke Divinity School and I must admit it's not gotten any easier. Don't worry, I'll spare you all the "there's too much reading, there's too many papers to be written, I can't remember it all" statements. I'll simply say, "ditto." I've discovered another problem, though, one that has been ever growing over the last several years and I find it http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/07/love-of-my-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-1751841854130528909Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:41:00 +00002010-07-07T17:41:35.358-04:00Duke Divinity SchoolJokeReadingYou know the old joke. Pete and Repeat were sitting in a boat and Pete fell out. Who was left? It's been told in various variations (on a fence and Pete fell off, walking in the street and Pete got run over, on a wall and Pete jumped down). In each variation the correct answer is "Repeat" and you're off again retelling the joke until your unsuspecting listener gets the joke.  I have a http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/07/pete-and-repeat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-5608855572631458220Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:35:00 +00002010-07-05T22:14:35.660-04:00Course of StudyDuke Divinity SchoolSo, if you read Facebook you will know that for the month of July I will be at Duke Divinity School taking four courses to move me along the United Methodist track of course of study. You also know full well how I have come with both feet dragging and daily desperation as I have tackled, and not tackled early enough, the pre-work required before I got here. I'll spare you all of that agony again http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/07/duke-desperation-and-divine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-6097081829419409461Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:52:00 +00002010-03-03T14:52:26.953-05:00ChruchChurch GrowthEd StetzerI have been thinking about church life and church growth lately. I've been wondering about where my church is in the scheme of these two areas - church life and church growth. It would be safe to say that these two areas are on every pastor's mind when they think about their churches. We pastors take these two areas very seriously, even if we are at a loss on what that should look like at our http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/03/decrease-in-increase.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-7049762207139124692Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:43:00 +00002010-02-08T17:43:51.468-05:00BumperstickersFireflysayingsI need your help and it is help that I will be need over a period of time. I am bouncing around a message series in my head that I want to call "Bumpersticker Christianity" or something like that. It's probably not an original idea but it's something I have been thinking about for a while, taking note of little sayings on billboards, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc., and I've often wondered what http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-need-your-help.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-189258536146480782Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:09:00 +00002010-01-26T19:43:16.975-05:00churchOrganismOrganizationI find church to be a very baffling and frustrating place. Despite all the books and articles I have read on the subject (and I've read many); despite all the church seminars and training sessions I have attended (and I've been to a lot); and despite all the advice I have been given by church leaders and "experienced" pastors (and I've received a lot); church remains an enigma to me. Of all thosehttp://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-find-church-to-be-very-baffling-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626673.post-5300675265410475569Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:47:00 +00002010-01-06T11:57:26.423-05:00Donal Miller blogResolutionsStoriesI was checking out some of the blogs that I like to read (see side bar) and was pleased to read Donald Miller's blog, written yesterday (1/5) on "Living a Meaningful Story - Creating Memorable Scenes." In light of what I wrote on New Year's Day and what I preached on last Sunday, I think you might get something out of what he had to say. Check it out. And be sure to read Part 1.Living a http://parishthethought.blogspot.com/2010/01/life-stories-for-further-discussion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Elder)1