http://www.dougmurren.com Thoughts from the pen of Doug Murren Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:30:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en There is a lot more talk about prayer in our day than there is praying going on. Prayer is the foundation of all that happens on earth. Jesus called us to pray in such a way that we would remember “your Father knows what you need before ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/08/19/prayer-in-the-21st-century/ I read in the Church Report that Tony Campolo feels the state should limit itself just to “legal unions” and the church oversee sacred weddings. I think he is right. And in essence that is what is already happening. The rate of couples living together outside marriage is ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/08/08/who-should-we-marry/ I grew up on Easy Street. It wasn’t a metaphorical experience but an actual street. It was a street that had formerly been the main highway outside town. It became a residential street when Eisenhower’s highway system replaced the old concrete highway. I loved living on Easy Street. I didn’t ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/08/04/growing-up-on-easy-street/ The London Times ran an article on a visit to England by Neil Young. He has a new movie coming out titled the Freedom of Speech Tour with Crosby, Stills and Nash. Besides aspirations for his music that lies ahead he is developing a battery-operated car. He has ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/07/17/expect-the-best/ Good communication has to do as much with what you don’t say as what you do say. I am a short preacher. I preach shorter for three reasons. One, it's easy to maintain a strong devotion to our children’s ministry with shorter services. But our habits are to ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/07/15/its-what-you-leave-out/ Marijuana was the 60’s drug of choice. And in 2008 it still is. Today's supply is about 50 times more powerful than the stuff sold in the 60’s. Therefore the habituation factor is much higher today. I think we are being too slack as healers and as a society ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/07/08/marijuana-a-spiritual-plague/ Sometimes Christianity can become more like empiricism than the supernatural revelation it is. And it is just as easy to begin to see the presentation of messages as good self-help material. Does preaching have to be pragmatic? Well, first, I think so, yes. But it is always ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/06/27/staying-in-touch-with-the-supernatural-angels/ Emotional Intelligence has been written about a great deal by Dr. Daniel Goleman. It has become a substantial discussion in leadership. The sobriety prayer best defines emotional Intelligence. It goes, “Grant me the courage to change what can be changed, the patience to accept what cannot, and the wisdom ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/06/23/what-makes-you-angry/ Every so often a great idea comes along and a great partnership. Both have happened to me on more than one occasion. Steve Sjogren, a noted author and leader and I are teaming up to do seminars in churches titled “New Evangelism.” It is an intuitive set ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/06/12/new-evangelism-seminars-with-murren-and-sjogren/ Religion is sounding more and more toxic to the generations coming into the mix now. The desire for something more authentic and organic is strong. Can the church fit into the new schemata? I think so but our demeanor needs to continue to change. The Christian population is becoming progressively more ... http://www.dougmurren.com/2008/06/11/the-toxicity-of-religion/