Preacher Joke of the Day

After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money."

"Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?"

"Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."

A New Cousin! Audrey Addison

She went to Disneyworld with us in September, but we had no idea what she looked like, because she was still in her momma's tummy!

Here she is!

Congratulations, Niermann 5!

We love you, Audrey Addison, and we're looking forward to seeing you in person soon.

Praying with My Garbage Collector

One of the most spiritually mature men that I know is named Ismael. His first language is Spanish and he works in Superior as one of our garbage collectors. He drives a really cool side-loading garbage truck through my neighborhood on Mondays. We first met back in the fall of 2003 shortly after I moved my family into our house. I had a lot of extra stuff to toss away after the move, and Ismael was very kind and helpful. If you're a frequent reader of my blog, you may recall my earlier post "Pray for Our Garbage Collector."

Please pray for my friend Ismael today. Pray that God would heal his daughter and that God would continue to strengthen Ismael's faith. His wife died in June 2007, leaving him to raise their 7 year old and 10 year old daughters. Ismael's older daughter may be showing symptoms of the same illness that killed his wife. He is a man who knows what it means to walk by faith. Every time I speak with Ismael, the words of scripture roll off his tongue in the most real and natural manner. I wish you could meet him.

Today, Ismael and I met for a quick bible study and prayer outside in a nearby park in our neighborhood. As we sat down by a half-frozen pond full of Canada Geese, Ismael pulled out is copy of La Biblia de Las Americas. In God's providence, the Bible passage that Ismael asked me about was the same passage that our "Peacemaking Church" group studied together last night:

"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)

Our time together was short, but so spiritually refreshing. We've scheduled another meeting for next Monday. I'm looking forward to seeing my brother in Christ again on his next trip through town. When you think about it, there is no earthly reason why Ismael and a guy like me should be friends. That's why I think it's so cool that God has brought Ismael into my life as a friend, prayer partner and brother in Christ.

My Verse for Today

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Cowboy Downhill Today at Steamboat

Don't you just love Western culture?

Kids and Cows

There's nothing quite like the feeling of stepping in some _______ at the National Western Stock Show.


If you've never been, you need to go.

Last night, after years of negotiations, I was finally able to convince my fancy-schmancy brother (in Summit County for a long ski weekend) to come down out of the high country long enough to show his kids some real Western culture.

We browsed the cattle sales, ate barbeque, saw the Wild West Show, and even ended up with some lassos and hats!

Who do you think is happiest? Anna, cousin Peter, or Ole' Bessie?






It took four of them, but together they were able to keep this bovine monster under control.

See what you've been missing!?!

We're going back for the SUPER DOGS show on Tuesday night. I can't wait.

Book Review: The Peacemaking Pastor

In October 2007, I had the privilege of hearing Albert Poirier preach and teach on biblical peacemaking at Covenant Theological Seminary. So I bought his book and put it on my shelf. This month, my church has begun "The Peacemaking Church" small group teaching series, of which this book is a part. Since I have been looking for more help to lead my church in peacemaking, it made sense to read and review this book at this time.

"Conflict is a synonym for congregation." "Conflict is not necessarily a consequence of sin, though it assuredly is frequent occasion for it." Therefore congregations need pastors who can lead them through conflict in a manner that brings glory to the God of peace.

"Christian conflict theory must be theologically rooted and ecclesiatically integrated." Pastor Poirier has done both excellently in this helpful pastoral theology text, although his ecclesiastical integrations assume a presbyterian model of polity and make an error in the interpretation of "the church" in Matthew 18. But that doesn't take away much from this very helpful book.

The theological roots for peacemaking and conflict theory start in the biblical doctrine of the person and work of Christ, spread to James chapter 4, develop in the biblical doctrine of adoption into the family of God, and result in real repentance, confession and forgiveness. Gospel truth, applied to relationships, by the grace of God resulting in transformed lives.

If you're a ministry leader or church member, I hope you read this book after you read "The Peacemaker" by Ken Sande.

I also hope you also get a kick out of Poirier's caricatures of some of the different pastoral leadership "models" that are out there. Rather than understanding the pastoral role primarily as one of a spiritual shepherd, conflicting messages within the "church-world" tempt pastors to abandon the biblical model of shepherding through the ministry of the Word and prayer. After all, who wants to embrace the role of "pastor as shepherd" when you could be:
"pastor as chief professor of his own captive seminary"
"pastor as CEO running a profitable, market-driven corporation"
"pastor as stand-up comedian and a generally feel-good guy"
"pastor as fascist dictator standing against the world for his own little causes"
"pastor as church watchdog publisher, always pointing out the failures of other churches in his denomination or in the larger evangelical community"
"pastor as mystic wordsmith and ritual maker, who appears only on Sunday morning and Wednesday night to give us the Word for today."
Reading that list made me and Megan chuckle last night.

May God give this world many more peacemaking pastors!

The Peacemaking Pastor: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Church Conflict, Alfred Poirier, Baker Books, 2006.