e2: effective elders e2: effective elders

Surrendering to Change

Does surrender seem like a dirty word? The “Sunday School answer” is an obvious “no.” But when I hear about preachers dismissed because…

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Surrendering Our Mental Health

Early in adolescence, I realized I was more prone to melancholy than most of my friends. While girls my age were worried about their next date or prom dress, I was pondering environmental issues and how to pay for college or my next car repair. I wanted to be the bubbly girl who was invited to every party, but…

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A Good Word

Weary yet? Not even a week is past in this new year, and we are inundated with bad news. Continual “breaking news” brings word of a broken world…

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Successful or Succeeding at What Doesn’t Matter?

I love being creative and using my hands to make something. I can sew, crochet, embroider, quilt, and cross-stitch. … In this area of my life, I feel successful but in many other areas I feel a lot less adequate.

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Christmas Future

We have been walking through the Christmas story these past couple weeks through the lens of “Christmas past” and “Christmas present” so you already know today is “Christmas future.” … there will be a Christmas future when Jesus comes again…

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Christmas Present

Last week, I mentioned my favorite Christmas movie is the 1984 George C Scott rendition of Christmas Carol. In the movie, Scrooge was escorted through various scenes of the impending Christmas morning by the spirit of Christmas Present, seeing how the regular, ordinary rhythm…

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Who’s Talking to the Next Generation?

I was a Junior in high school when the church I attended most of my childhood split. It was ugly. … Our youth group was active and we had wonderful leaders. But no amount of camping trips, pizza parties, or lock-ins could keep us from feeling the dark cloud …

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L.E.A.D. Well for Jesus

Have you ever considered your purpose or calling? You may play a lead role in a ministry, you may serve on staff at your Church, you may be a pastor’s or elder’s wife, you may have a successful career, or stay home with your children. Regardless of what you do, we all…

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Christmas Past

Are you glad this season has come? Whether you have been eagerly anticipating the Christmas seaons, or dreading its inevitable arrival, we at e2 want to, in the next 3 weeks, bring you encouragement in the Name of Jesus from His Christmas story. In our family, the Christmas season begins at sundown on Thanksgiving Day…

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Helmet of Salvation

I love football. There’s something appealing about millionaires brutally hurting one another for our entertainment. When I think of a helmet, I immediately think “football.” We wear helmets in other scenarios as well…

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Things are Better than you Think

Pretty much every family has a family matriarch whose opinion actually matters. Even if family members disagree at times with that “head mama,” they still mull over what she says and rethink their own position—just in case.

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Soul Care - Gratitude

When was the last time you expressed gratitude for a flat tire? How about an unexpected bill or a disagreement with a friend? Our “normal” response is to fuss, shake our head and ask, “Are you kidding?” Let’s face it…

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Heartbeat of Leadership

A newspaper article grabbed my attention while scanning the headlines this week. The caption for the Wall Street Journal read: “Storytelling Makes Hearts Beat As One.”

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The High Priority of Church Unity

The Book of Acts provides us with the profile of the very first Christian church. It launched an historic movement that has literally changed the world.  And today, in 2021, Christ-followers number 2.4 billion people worldwide…

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Cleaning Up Spiritual Messiness

When I’m working from home, the desk I use is an antique desk built by my husband’s grandfather. It is the type with a drop-leaf front that, when opened, provides a work surface … and when I open it – oh my!

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Soul Care - Rest

I’m tired. My brain doesn’t shut off from the things on my “To-Do” list. I really need to send one, last email before going to bed. Maybe I should fold the laundry and finish up the dishes. Sound like you?

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2 Powerful Weapons

As any elder knows, the church is quite often involved in different levels of spiritual warfare.  Satan’s greatest desire is to destroy any community of believers – any church – in which he can get a “foothold” (Eph. 4:27).  Paul shares powerful words about the regular, daily, ongoing spiritual warfare we face in 2 Cor. 10:3-4:  

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do…

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Joy in Adversity

Trials … they come in all shapes and sizes, and usually when you least expect them. One of my biggest trials came in the body of a three-year-old boy when he started having seizures.

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Expanding the Communion Table

In our dining area sits a perfectly round oak dining table. As empty-nesters, it is mostly just me and my lovely wife, Ms. Carol, at that table. There is nothing fancy…

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