Paul Joiner

Finding a Treasure In an Unusual Place

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” (Proverbs 16:31) Around sixty percent of the COVID deaths have been in people over the age of 70. As that statistic has been discussed, the dialogue has been discouraging. Some have argued that we are disrupting lives and the economy forContinue reading “Finding a Treasure In an Unusual Place”

Worship In My Pajamas

I get the draw to online worship. For the last two weeks, we were in Corona Quarantine, so we experienced a casual Sunday morning. We rolled out of bed and got to watch online. There was no fighting to get the kids ready and no running late. We didn’t have to get dressed, and whenContinue reading “Worship In My Pajamas”

Why Unhealthy People Crave Controversy

“To be sure, controversies happen in every era since people will have differing views on important issues, and sometimes even disagreements about how important those issues are. But Scripture speaks repeatedly about those who have what the apostle Paul calls “an unhealthy craving for controversy” (1 Tim. 6:4). Of course, Paul was more than willingContinue reading “Why Unhealthy People Crave Controversy”

One Reason Why We Aren’t Doing Well

I’ve been on a mission to install this baseline in all of our lives: None of us are doing well and nobody realizes it. We all hate the masks. Nobody likes them. They are uncomfortable. They remind us that things aren’t normal. They hinder us from seeing each other’s expressions. Every interaction and every decisionContinue reading “One Reason Why We Aren’t Doing Well”

Encouragement for the Hour

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing… And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14 Courage might be the greatest need of the hour. More than sympathy and compassion, we need courage.Continue reading “Encouragement for the Hour”

I Want Normal Worship Back

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. – Psalm 27:4 In a previous post I wrote about the centralityContinue reading “I Want Normal Worship Back”

How To Properly Handle Your Opinions

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Romans 14:1, ESV) Our time is a heated point in history. There are strong opinions about many things. This isn’t the first time this has happened in history. And it won’t be the last time. But the peopleContinue reading “How To Properly Handle Your Opinions”

Entering Into the Race Fray: Seeing

A lot of us are wondering how to process the racial tension that is boiling around us. The Scriptures are always are guide through complex issues, there is nothing new under the sun. Where should we start? Let’s start with just seeing. It strikes me how often the gospel writers note that Jesus “saw” someoneContinue reading “Entering Into the Race Fray: Seeing”

Some Thoughts After Restarting Worship

Yesterday was sweet and bitter. It was a tremendous blessing to have people back in the room again. I wanted to share some thoughts I had after yesterday. Congregational singing is faith giving. One of our core principles is that the one voice of the congregation is the focus of our music. It’s our wayContinue reading “Some Thoughts After Restarting Worship”

Our Liturgy Shapes Our Desires

We are not primarily thinking beings, we are primarily desiring people. In a previous post, we said that we become what we worship either for ruin or restoration (Psalm 135:15-18). If we become what we worship, then how do our hearts get reshaped to worship the Lord Jesus? How do we reshape our desires? InContinue reading “Our Liturgy Shapes Our Desires”