Towne View Baptist Church

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The Suburban Parson

A Foretaste of the Kingdom?

Posted by Jim Conrad on

It was a good day in our little neck of the Kingdom. People gathered to study the Bible, fellowship, and share life. Worship attendance was down some (I've been reading recently of a debate over which is worse for church attendance- good weather or bad?) but the Spirit was present as we offered...

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oops!

Posted by Jim Conrad on

As soon as the words came out of my mouth... something just didn't feel right.  It was the way I'd always heard it, the source to which the immortal words had always been referenced.  Still... So this afternoon I powered-up the laptop and went to that all-knowing source of knowledge-...

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Unspeakaboutable Prayer

Posted by Jim Conrad on

Our little high school prayer group was wrapping-up the evening when my friend Clyde raised his hand. "I have an unspeakaboutable." The others of us cocked our heads with expressions ranging from "huh?" to "really, Clyde" to "what did he just say?" Catching our confusion he fumbled for a moment...

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Leaving a Mark

Posted by Jim Conrad on

As our vans pulled-out from the Wherry Housing Community last Saturday morning I glanced around at the sleepy neighborhood and looked back through the mirror at a bus-load of tired teenagers.  It had been- by any standard of measure- a good week. The mission trip was over- but its impact...

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A Psalm of Lament

Posted by Jim Conrad on

How long must hatred be the legacy passed from generation to generation? How long must innocents suffer at the hands of the wicked? How long must a nation be wounded by the abuse of its freedoms? How long must young people feel that violence is the only way to express their frustrations? How...

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Prayer-walking

Posted by Jim Conrad on

For the last couple of months I have tried to prayer-walk in our cul-de-sac and the one behind us.  It's not that hard- I pray for my neighbors as I walk the dogs! I pray for neighbors trying to sell a home, those adjusting to an empty nest, and those struggling with aging parents- in New...

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Keeping Sabbath

Posted by Jim Conrad on

In a break from our Jewish forebearers, most Christians observe Sunday as the sabbath, or day of rest.  In our own game of legalistic gotcha' much debate has been invested into what one could or could not do on "the day of rest."  At minimum, most would agree that it would be a day...

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Prayers for a Wedding

Posted by Jim Conrad on

It was a beautiful, sun-kissed Saturday afternoon as family and friends gathered for Thomas and Allie's wedding. The unseen Guest, was also among us so minister/dad offered these prayers. An invocation: God, we are gathered today in celebration of your love.  Father God, it was as an...

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How can I help?

Posted by Jim Conrad on

I am a news junkie.  I like being informed but sometimes all that information can be overwhelming.  Consider the earthquake in Nepal. I can't fathom the deaths of almost 4,000 people. I can't get my mind around the extent of devastation. I can't grasp the fear of people staying...

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They are the hope

Posted by Jim Conrad on

Yesterday was a great day of worship and celebration.  The highlight for me was Amber Conti's sharing about her recent school-sponsored mission trip to Guatemala. Here are the take-aways for me: The camp director told the student group that the camp facility was a sanctuary that...

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