Randy Willis

Desperate Preachers 4.0

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Ikeep thinking I’ve written my last post in this series, but here’s yet another one. Maybe it’ll be my last (for a while). I’m posting another update mainly because the week after the last post, I made significant changes to it — more in structure/grammar than in content. I think it feels more natural this … Read more

End of a Chapter

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Yesterday, we went to Carlisle for a 3:00 p.m. hearing where Sarah’s adoption was finalized at the Cumberland County Courthouse. With Carlisle nearly three hours away, it was an all-day event! Yesterday’s finalization was the final step in the legal process. It not only marks the end of Sarah’s adoption process, it also marks the … Read more

First Fourth for the Four

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Shortly after arriving in Clearfield two years ago, we wrote about our First Fourth with Ethan. Well, yesterday was our first Fourth as a family of four. With the holiday landing on Sunday, the day began in worship at our respective churches. After naps (and after I attended a viewing for a funeral on Monday), … Read more

What is Preaching?

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Ihave been chewing on the question, what is preaching, for a while. Is preaching simply teaching people about the Bible or giving an inspirational message, or is it more than that? This isn’t an exhaustive discussion on the nature of preaching, of course, but I’ve been thinking about preaching as communicating, proclaiming (i.e., good news), … Read more

Ordination Process, The Final Year

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Joleen and I are both on track to be ordained Elders in The United Methodist Church on June 11, 2011 (a little over 11 months from now). It’s been a long journey, but we’re now in the final year, the home stretch. Here are the requirements we must complete in the final year … Application … Read more

Work Ethic

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The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, had a legendary work ethic, travelling thousands of miles by horseback, preaching thousands of sermons over the course of his long life, and starting a global movement, in the process. Wesley was very disciplined. In fact, it’s no surprise that the UMC’s official book is called the “Book of … Read more

Desperate Preachers 3.0

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This is another revision of my preaching prayer guide (see Desperate Preachers 1.0 and 2.0). It undergoes revisions every week. Since the last post, I’ve gone from phrases to keywords, which gives more freedom. So, for what it’s worth here’s the latest desperate preacher’s prayer guide … Lord, prepare me to communicate your message to … Read more

Favorite Tweets 1.0

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Three months ago, I wrote that I started using Twitter (click here for my Twitter stream). I also wrote about Twitter Web Apps shortly after that (which probably needs updating). Over the last few months, I’ve marked a number of tweets as “favorites.” Periodically, I’ll blog some of my favorite favorites—statements that inspire and challenge … Read more

Father’s Day 2010

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Ater church today, we were able to take a few photos before Ethan and Sarah crashed following their Sunday morning routine of Sunday school, worship … and Mommy and Daddy’s early morning, last-minute prep. No easy task! In October 2009, I wrote in on our first full day together as a family of four that … Read more