Short-Term Residency

Short-Term Residency

by | May 22, 2023 | Firm Foundations

A week or two ago I was privileged to share some time with the Indiana United Methodist Church’s RIM group. RIM is short for Residence in Ministry. Once a man or woman is “commissioned” into ministry at annual conference, they then spend 3 years in “residency,” much...
Hoarders

Hoarders

by | Apr 17, 2023 | Firm Foundations

For many years people have enjoyed a reality TV show titled, “Hoarders.”  The show goes into the homes of people for whom every surface of the house—floors, counters, stairways, and bedrooms—are packed with so much stuff that one literally has to walk on top of the...
Credit Where Credit Is Due

Credit Where Credit Is Due

by | Apr 4, 2023 | Firm Foundations

Lately there has been a lot of talk in the news about banks and a possible upcoming credit crunch.  That got me thinking.  Many people don’t know that the word “credit” means to “trust or believe in.”  When a bank gives you “credit” they believe you will pay them...
Made Whole

Made Whole

by | Mar 20, 2023 | Firm Foundations

A bit of a shock wave moved through our country this week as a fair-sized financial institution was forced to close.  Silicon Valley Bank experienced a “run” on the bank.  Depositors, fearing the bank would collapse, tried to pull their money out, which accelerated...
A Trust to Treasure and Share

A Trust to Treasure and Share

by | Mar 7, 2023 | Firm Foundations

When I was a young man in preacher school (also known as seminary), I had to do a two-hour presentation on the merger of the EUB Church with The Methodist Church, forming the United Methodist Church. Rather than do so much work, I remembered that retired Bishop Reuben...