Author Archives: Clark Bunch

Here’s Our Chance

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Today is Halloween, which happens to be one of a long list of things Christians disagree about.  At our house we carve a Jack-o-lantern and hand out candy, relegating the holiday to a children’s event only.  We have good friends that turn off all their lights, go to bed early, and complain that people still knock on their door.  Christians disagree on celebrating Christmas, voting in elections, serving in the military, consuming alcohol, and even the use of caffeine.  How Christians feel about _______ always depends on which one you ask.

Hurricane Sandy may go down in history as the worst weather-related disaster in our nation’s history.  This is our chance to be the body of Christ.  More than teaching rhetoric, Jesus taught his disciples to go and do.   Continue reading →

The Read and Share File

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I know it’s been a while.  Here’s what’s up:

The bookstore – far from dead, they may be doing better than you think.  Check out these 12 stats.

Hurricane Sandy, Frakenstorm, or whatever you call it is still dumping rain and snow.  It’s too not early, however, to plan a response and begin mobilization.  Talking about the Gospel is one thing, giving a child a cup of water is another.  Let’s go.

“You can’t get something for nothing.”  Christians know this is untrue.  While on the subject of free gifts, John Piper wants you to have this Martin Luther biography as a free e-book (available in many formats, including pdf). Continue reading →

What We Bring to the Table

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Paul Wilkinson is the author of Thinking Out Loud and Christianity 201.  Today he is our guest.  (And no, that’s not him in the picture.)

Back on the Labor Day weekend, Clark asked me to consider writing something for his readers here. I was honored, but also confused. What could I possibly bring to The Master’s Table that wouldn’t be the blog equivalent of showing up at Clark’s house and painting graffiti all over his living room walls?  I believe this is part of a larger “table” question we should ask ourselves on a regular basis,

What Do I Have to Bring to the Table?

I don’t do a lot of formal meetings in the course of a year, but when they come up, I like to arrive prepared. If there are multiple people involved, sometimes I will say nothing for the first twenty minutes, looking for the idea that’s being missed, the implication that’s not being considered, the parallel to another situation that’s not being remembered. Then I will interject something that I feel is helpful. I want to make a contribution, not simply nod in agreement or call for the vote. Continue reading →

Happy Monday

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According to the official Happy Monday declaration, one of the things we do on Monday morning is review some of the headlines you may have missed.  We also look forward to the week ahead and share encouragement in the form of inspirational quotes, Bible verses and humor.  There was a complaint last week (via text message, not in the comments) that there wasn’t much to be happy about.  I’ll try try to keep it positive. Continue reading →

Multitasking Worship

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My mother uses her cell phone for one thing, and that is to make and receive calls.  She has no camera, internet or mp3 player.  But let’s be honest, that isn’t how most of us do it.  Most of us are downloading music, texting, instant messaging, uploading pics, and some of us still talk once in a while.  We do business on the way to work.  We listen to audio books while on the treadmill.  Nobody does one thing at a time anymore.

Moses sees the burning bush in Exodus 3, and in verse 3 he says “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”  Moses was doing his job as a shepherd when the sight of the burning bush got his attention.  He then turned aside; he put what he was doing on hold in order to pay attention to this curious sight.  He discovers God in the bush, and for the rest of chapter 3 and 4 does nothing but talk and listen to God. Continue reading →

Happy Monday

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 

The second presidential debate was much livelier than the first, causing many viewers to think it would actually come to blows.  The SNL parody did a great job capturing the “mood” of the event.  The final debate is tonight was Monday.

A woman in Texas gets 99 years in prison for super-gluing her child’s hands to a wall.  The 2-year-old was in a coma for 2 days but is recovering.  Meanwhile in Colorado a 19-year-father gets 90 days – that’s a sentence of 90 days – after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the death of his 6-month-old daughter. Continue reading →

Bethany’s Blog

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I read a post some weeks ago about the lack of females in the Christian blogosphere.  While I don’t have binders full of them (sorry) I would like to share… one.

Even if you didn’t see Soul Surfer you must be somewhat aware of Bethany Hamilton.  She and her family not only consulted during the production of the film (based on her autobiography) Bethany herself did many of the stunts seen onscreen.  The fame has created an audience she would not have had otherwise, and she thanks God for the opportunity to be a witness.  Hamilton has traveled the world telling her story and doing mission work.  Here is the link to her blog, but I will warn you she averages one or two posts per month.  She was nearly eaten alive by a shark; what’s your excuse?

Happy Monday

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Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?  –God’s Page

Joe Biden and Paul Ryan debated on Thursday night, Obama and Romney will be back at on Tuesday.  My wife wishes the election would already be over, and we don’t even live in one of those battleground states.  The entire election may come down to Ohio, and the t.v. ads and mail box stuffing is at full tilt.  Sorry Ohio.

Felix Baumgartner finally jumped from the edge of space over the weekend.  Did he set a new speed record, breaking the sound barrier in the process?  No.

American Airlines says the recent seat incidents aboard its planes may be due to spilled snacks and drinks corroding the hardware.  Snacks and drinks have been served on passenger planes since the 1920’s, Delta has over 5,000 flights per day, and only American has this problem?

Continue reading →

Believing and Doing

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Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  -Matthew 7:24

Jesus says that everyone who hears his words and does them is like that wise man.  Verse 26 describes the man that hears those same words but does not do them.  (Read the full story here.)  There is a obviously a difference between hearing and doing.  There is even a difference between believing and doing.  Faith is belief in action, and it is the action of the believer that makes all the difference. Continue reading →

Quotable

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The church is a living body and must have working parts.

-Our Daily Bread, A Working Church, Oct. 12, 2012 (link)