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A La Carte (9/15)
- 09/15/10
- 10
Aileen and I were in Costco the other day (for the first time in years) and found several aisles stuffed full of Christmas trees, bows, wreaths, wrapping paper and all the other trappings of Christmas. Already. Mid-September and already the stores are preparing for the Christmas rush. Unbelievable.
Parenting by the Book - I’m hearing good things about this video series on parenting from Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky. One new class will be added each week.
Sentencing Day - Several times I’ve mentioned Terry Stauffer whose daughter Emily was killed in a vicious attack. Yesterday was sentencing day for the man who killed her and the National Post has a report.
How to Write Less Badly - “Rachel Toor and other writers on these pages have talked about how hard it is to write well, and of course that’s true. Fortunately, the standards of writing in most disciplines are so low that you don’t need to write well. What I have tried to produce below are 10 tips on scholarly nonfiction writing that might help people write less badly.”
Evaluating Your Ministry - Brian Croft asks and answers this question: How are pastors most tempted to evaluate their ministries in ways God does not?
Fastest Growing and Largest Churches - Bob Kelleman: “The Largest and Fastest-Growing lists are based on February and March weekend attendance averages. The 2010 Largest list includes churches with an attendance of more than 5,500 while this year's Fastest-Growing list includes churches with attendance greater than 1,000; a numerical gain of 250 or more; and a percentage gain of at least 3 percent. Rankings for Fastest-Growing Churches are determined by factoring both percentage growth and numerical gain.”
Bean at Church - I stumbled upon this video the other day. It had been a whlie since I last saw it, but it’s still plenty funny.
When God issues a call to us, it is always a holy call. The vocation of dying is a sacred vocation. To understand that is one of the most important lessons a Christian can ever learn. When the summons comes, we can respond in many ways. We can become angry, bitter or terrified. But if we see it as a call from God and not a threat from Satan, we are far more prepared to cope with its difficulties. —R.C. Sproul
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (10)
Your stores are just now selling Christmas items? The stores around here (Midwest USA) have been selling them since July! Happy New Year! Now, where are those Easter items…
The brutal murder of Emily Stauffer sickened me back when I heard it and after hearing the sentence ,I’m even more sickened at our justice system. 18 years without the chance of parole is a joke . The fact is I have read of sentences were people who have committed fraud or even armed robbery ,without violence ,getting as much . A precious life was savagely taken and excuse me , if you cut someones throat and leave someone to die that is not 2nd degree murder. The only sentence I think does justice to this brutal act is the death penalty . But that will not happen . Still 18 years is a joke .If he can’t be put to death I say 100 years , no parole . I cannot fathom the pain of this family and I have been amazed at the grace they have shown . May we continue to pray for them .
I like the irony of placing the article about the largest churches immediately after the article on measuring pastoral effectiveness based on shepherding rather than on attendance numbers.
I agree with Mr. Schofield. An 18 year sentence for such a heinous crime is ridiculous for at leas two reasons:
1) When you take a life, you should lose yours (at least your freedom) permanently just as your victim lost theirs.
2) How are they going to protect future victims after the 18 years have passed? The man will be 63 years old when his time is up.
I pray for the Stauffer family and this man. Healing for the family. Repentance for the man.
In Christ,
Dan…
Mr Bean or Sinclair Ferguson? You be the judge!
Just to clarify, Kleman got life in prison with a chance of parole in 18 years. It’s frustrating and saddening, but it is life in prison.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Former+preacher+gets+life+prison/352…
Having known Emily well, it angers me in a sense to know that her killer might have the option to walk quasi-free in 18 years. However, we can pray that he doesn’t and realize that the judgement system on this earth is as full of humans, and thus sin, as any other part of life. Our justice is only a sinful attempt to image God’s justice and someday, that will come.
Whilst we laugh at Mr. Bean, it may be close to home to all of us at some time in our life. Been there, done that, though not quite so humorously.
I like the irony of placing the article about the largest churches immediately after the article on measuring pastoral effectiveness based on shepherding rather than on attendance numbers.
So did I! :)
Do victims families in Canada have the right to attend the parole hearing or write a letter in order to provide input to the parole board as they do in the U.S.? Or is it possible to have him committed to a psychiatric institution indefinitely after he is released as is done in some states here in the U.S.?
Thanks for the link to “10 Tips on How to Write Less Badly.” I love the title! If I can just write less badly this week than last week I’ve made progress.
My heart aches for the Stauffers. When we all walk together in the regeneration how happy our hearts will be..