The Shepherd's Connection

Have you seen any “smoke screens” lately? The term smoke screen originated as a term to describe the masking of the movement or location of military units such as infantry, tanks, aircraft or ships. Since its origin, the phrase has been used to describe any effort at a cover up. This could refer to language, behavior and misleading actions. This phrase is often used to describe human behavior that is not totally honest.

A few nights ago, as I was trying to fall asleep, I was overcome with a feeling of loneliness. My sons live in Chicago and Southeast Asia. I do not get to see them and their families as often as I would like. My father and only brother are both deceased. They died in 2007 and 2008. My mother and I are the only immediate blood relative family members left. My church is made up of people who are mostly related or life-long friends. These factors could contribute to loneliness.

We all know pastoring is a full-time job. How can anyone, especially Paul, serve as a pastor and hold down a full-time job? Surely, “Paul, Bi-vocational Pastor” must be a misprint. Surely, Paul could not have worked a secular job and have been the great missionary preacher he was. Surely, Paul could not have worked a secular job and written approximately half of the books in our New Testament. Surely, Paul could not have worked a secular job and proclaimed the gospel in all the locations he visited. Yet he did.

Joe McKeever gets real with advice learned by the hard experience of many Easters

God made us to be in relationship with each other. We were made for community and we all want good friends. But what do good friends look like? What do they do or not do? In the most intimate of the 13 letters the Apostle Paul wrote that help form the New Testament, Philippians, we see a portrait of what to look for in a friend. Consider these 5 behaviors that a good friend will consistently live out and ask yourself if you model them as a friend yourself.