Allen's Blog

What I Learned This Summer Remember when you returned from summer break and your first assignment was to write about what you did over the summer?   I remember when my summers disappeared.   My first job out of college was as a management trainee at Moore’s Building Supply in Roanoke, VA.   The spring slipped into summer and I hardly noticed.   Being off the academic year was a jolt and a huge disappointment.   I had to choose carefully how I would spend my two weeks of vacation a year.   If not for my involvement in Young Life I would not have had much of an excursion at all.   So, one week at camp and I can’t remember the other week. Fast forward…..a few years….this past summer I was involved with an inner city ministry and we offered a five week program for the youth.   This was right up my alley.   I had done youth ministry for years.   I loved kids….of all ages.   And I had been affirmed that I was pretty good with them.   You’d think I would have learned fr

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? What’s the big deal?   Why is there such disagreement between those who call themselves Christians?   Is there a baseline to which all should refer?   Or are we free to follow our hearts and worship in a way that brings us the most satisfaction?   Recently I attended a church service in which all the elements appeared very religious.   Pastors and choirs in robes, a church building, pews, hymns, a baptism, the reading of the Bible and prayer.   According to most it fit the definition of a ‘worship service’.   In many ways, I wish I could just leave it well-enough-alone.   But my understanding of Scripture and the nature of God does not allow me to keep silent.   Whether God needs defending or not, I feel I must offer some critique and see if I can do so in an effort to pursue Truth in an attitude of love. It’s amazing all that can happen in a one hour service, but my thoughts in this brief diatribe describe the direction o