Blog entries

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Our Small Individual Worlds

Michael Kurtz — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:48:26 +0100

Our human condition lends itself to staying in comfort zones. We like the familiar. We don't handle change too well. I am a creature of routine. Perhaps we all are. But those of us who rate high "J" on the Myers-Briggs Temperament Profile have a high propensity to structure, routine and closure. Closure and things like written lists give us a sense of control in life (psuedo though it may be). If I am to be spontaneous, and opeRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: In Advent Awaiting Freedom

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:50:13 +0100

One winter season our family had an unwanted and a surprise guest in our house. A mallard duck somehow made her way into our chimney but could find no passage of escape! The contour of the chimney made exiting impossible and the glass covering the fireplace opening prevented exiting in that direction....thankfully for the home dwellers!
One early morning Karen and I were abrubtly awakened by a horrible racket seemingly coming from our living room. &nbsRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Gratitude Generated Generosity

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:49:34 +0100

I will always remember with great fondness a former church member of mine by the name of Paul. Paul was filled with gratitude. His signature statement was, "It's great to be alive!" And he truly LIVED each and every day. And, I remind myself, his life was not always easy. Toward the last part and season of his life his wife had alzhiemers disease. He kept Bea at home with him as long as he possibly could.&Read More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: When Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:54:19 +0100

We can so easily miss out on seizing the moment because we are either looking back at yesterday or anticipating tomorrow. Sometimes we seem to be living on cruise control and not really absorbing nor realizing the beauty of the here and now. In this fog and funk we begin to refer to life as mundane, ho-hum, and ordinary.

Not long ago my wife Karen and I refected upon this "ordinary" trap that can so easily snare all of us human beings.&Read More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: 30th Wedding Anniversary

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:05:23 +0100

This week my wife, Karen, and I observed and celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. I am incredibly blessed to have such a loving and giving and patient spouse! In some ways these past 30 years have seemed to fly by. In other respects, when I reflect upon all the experiences and life journeys that Karen and I have experienced together....hey, it adds up to a lot!

One thing I am reminded of as I reflect upon thirty years of marriage.Read More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: The Freedom of Grace

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:12:17 +0100

On this Independence Day weekend I give thanks for the opportunity and privilege of living in a land with so many freedoms. There are many on this globe who do not enjoy these same liberties. May our prayers go out to them, especially those living under totalitarian and oppressive governments. May we also remember and show our gratitude to those who stand in harms way so that we may be the recipients of such great freedoms.

I believe and afRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Festival of the Christian Home Month

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:15:52 +0100

This time of year we often think family....Mother's Day (May); Father's Day (June) and Festival of the Christian Home Month (May). Family is that place where "iron sharpens iron." It is not always easy. Sometimes being family is downright tough. Yet, if we allow and do our fair share in terms of responsibility and participation family can be a pretty special and cool deal. And in that specialness we are being shaped and fRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: An Easter Sunrise Memory

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:03:00 +0100

I called Mom last night. Each Thursday evening I usually do this. Each of us siblings takes a different evening to call Mom, ever since Dad died last year. During our conversation, amongst other topics, Mom and I reminisced about our many Easter sunrise services attended as a family through the years. Some of our favorite were those on top of Long Meadow. Long Meadow is just as its name suggests - - - a long meadow onRead More...

Michael's Musings: Solitude, Silence and a To-Do List

Michael Kurtz — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:39:58 +0100

The Season of Lent invites us to come clean before God. I find that in order to do this necessary "house-cleaning" of the soul it is good and right to carve out some intentional time for reflection and introspection with Holy Spirit guidance. Genuine introspection will lead us to honest confession which, in turn, leads to a liberating of the weighted soul.

While I am aware that my soul requires this reflection time, there is a problem: Read More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Healthy Relationship Practices

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:33:54 +0100

A lot is said and shared this time of year (February and Valentine's Day) about love and relationships, so I figured I would add my own two cents. When I think about healthy relationships and the work that a healthy, nurturing relationship requires, I often think about my Dad's reflections and advice concerning this topic. Dad passed away April 26th, 2010 after forty-seven years of practicing medicine as a Family Pratictioner. He had a passiRead More...

PIZZA STAINS AND HEART CHANGE: Am I Happy?

Jonathan Spangler — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 05:22:24 +0100

Starting this coming Sunday night, the Ridge Student Ministry will begin a new study written by Sean McDowell entitled, "Am I Happy?". During the next six Sunday Night Youth meetings, we will break down the misconceptions of true happiness that society and the media try to teach our youth.

Too many times, I hear stories that give evidence to teenagers searching for happiness in all the wrong places. Teens naturally tend to gain confidence and joy from superficial thinRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Entering a New Year

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:54:50 +0100

As we continue to navigate into the early part of 2011, an idea that I recently heard on the radio seems worthy of passing on. I was out running recently when the Christian radio which I was listening to shared the idea of instead of making, and breaking, a New Year resolution, how about adopting a particular word or phrase. This word or phrase which you choose becomes your vision for this new year. It could be an area Read More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Making Room for the Best

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:32:37 +0100

It's so easy to get caught up and swept away in a life that is overly filled and too busy, especially, ironically at this time of year.....A time of year, named Advent on the Christian calendar, where we are invited and encouaged to spend time waiting and pondering and watching. A Season to gain proper perspective. A Time to make room for the best things in life. So often we fill our lives with things (possessions, events, busyness, work) not bad things, anRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: College Basketball, Professional Football and Christian Financial Stewardship

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:08:54 +0100

November to me means a time of year when my favorite sport begins....college basketball. I love the fast-paced, acrobatic athletic movements, and the strategies of a closely contested game of b-ball! November also means I have the luxury of viewing my second favorite sport - - professional football. After a wonderful and jam-packed Sunday morning of leading worship, mingling with God's people, and preaching 3 sermons at 3 worship services I am rRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: We Can't Do This!

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:27:47 +0100

I was tired. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I was mired in a pity party. I had taken so much responsibility - - we call this "over-functioning" in the therapy world - - that I had left God's grace out of the equation! How short-sighted! How presumptuous! How wrong!

As one of the pastors at our church, involved in the planning and administration of our current capital campaign, I had developed aRead More...

Michael's Musings: The Family that plays together, stays together.

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:41:16 +0100

The statement "The family that plays together, stays together," may not be true 100% of the time, but the practice of this philosophy sure can improve the unity cohesiveness and fun for a family and/or a relationship with a significant other. I grew up in a family in which we often played games. Almost no day went by where we didn't play something--Sorry, Life, Monopoly, Candy Land, checkers, chinese checkers, backgammon, chess, ping-pong, shuffle boaRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Happy Birthday Aunt Jean

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:17:50 +0100

My wife Karen's great Aunt Jean turns 105 today! Happy Birthday Aunt Jean! What a milestone! And, what a life! Jean made a career out of teaching school in the North Carolina mountains in the small southern town of Andrews. Former students relate that she was tough and she was fair. They also relate that you never....ever....wore a cap into her class. That spelled big troubleRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: The Beatitude Attitudes

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:36:55 +0100

Our church family will soon be engaged in a church-wide study titled, "Life's Healing Choices." We will be reading John Baker's book by the same name, and with the subtitle: "Freedom from Your Hurts, Hang-Ups, and Habits." But, more importantly, we will be reading and reflecting upon The Beatitudes, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I am asking and encouraging all of us to read Matthew 5:1-12 each and every day August 1st through October 10th (ThRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Things we Treasure

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:27:05 +0100

The week before last my Mom and my siblings (3) and I, along with our families, sorted through Dad's stuff. Pop passed away in late April, and Mom is moving in order to down-size since she no longer needs all that extra space and lawn to look after. I must say it was a chore. In some ways it was sad. It was not easy. And, yet, for me anyway, it provided further closure on Dad's death; and, it provided yet another cathartic expeRead More...

MICHAEL'S MUSINGS: Lasting Liberty

Michael Kurtz — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:43:49 +0100

As we approach July 4th and Independence Day folks will, rightly so, be gathering and celebrating. As Americans we are incredibly blessed to experience the freedom we enjoy! May we give thanks for this privilege and never take it for granted.
And, as we celebrate political freedom, may we as Christians, take this opportunity to cue us to think about, and give thanks for, an even greater freedom. It is a freedom that is noRead More...