It’s a Directional Thing

[This post is in a series of posting about marriage and weddings.  You can find the first four posts here, here, here, and here] When my wife and I got married we had to sign a four page contract with, what felt like, a zillion points as to what would be allowed or not allowed in our wedding ceremony and [...]

Vision Conversations Part 1

On Sunday a began a two-week message series that talks about where we are headed here at the Living Stones Church in 2012. And when I say two-week…I really do mean it is a two part message.  I had Paco Bayer give me a signal when I had reached a certain time and then I [...]

Exhaustion With Negative Campaigns

Everyone hates them.  Everyone complains about them.  Everyone demands that the candidates don’t go negative.  But the statistics are very clear – negative campaigning works and is effective.  And negative campaigning has worked since the birth of our democracy. You think things are bad now.  You should have seen them in 1800.  Check out this [...]

South Side Schools Part 3

See Part 1 here and Part 2 here “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to Farce or Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”  James Madison 1788 [...]

South Side Schools Part 2

See Part 1 here. One way the city government can help our neighborhood schools is to do something about the condition of the neighborhoods that surrounds the schools.  Specifically, something about the blight and abandoned properties that many schools on the South Side are right in the middle of. Has anyone seen the neighborhood that [...]

South Side Schools Part 1

[This is a series of blogs dealing with issues pertaining to condition of neighborhoods on the South Side of South Bend.  You can read the first couple of posts here , here , & here.] This past Monday evening the  South Bend School Board had their weekly meeting. During the meeting the newly elected Mayor, Pete Buttigieg, addressed the board. [...]

A Loving Message From My Mother

So…my mom has taken up the Living Stones challenge to read through the Bible this year.  She just finished the book of Leviticus (no small feat).  This is the e-mail she sent me after reading it: You are a sinner!!!!! Leviticus 19:28! Have a good day!! I finally made my way through that book… how can [...]

Vision Message From Sunday

If you ever wanted to know what the “heart beat” of the Living Stones Church is in about 30 minutes of time – check out this past Sunday’s podcast.  You can find it here. THEN don’t miss the next two weeks as we try to unpack and articulate how we are going to live out [...]

Church Discipline @ Mars Hill Church

Church discipline is a difficult thing.  I know the Bible has teaching regarding its necessity.  The foundational assumptions of community and fellowship in our present experience of “church” in 2012 as contrasted to that in the 1st century are very problematic for me.  So, I confess my own concerns, questions, insecurities, hesitancies (or whatever other [...]

The Most Messed With Group of Educators

I feel sorry for the Kindergarten aides in the South Bend School Corporation.  I think they have a very difficult job and are underpaid.  I also think they are absolutely critical and necessary to the classroom.  But the South Bend School Corporation needs to cut $10 million.  So, what do they do…they release all the [...]