Author Archives: tmrichmond3

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About tmrichmond3

I am the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Medford, Oregon. I believe that faith should be able to sustain us, not oppress us.

Mighty Mites

Posted on November 13, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  Lucifer vs. Tit for Tat During the Cuban missile crisis in the early 1960s, social scientists were working on how to respond to the nuclear threat in ways that would stop either side from blowing up the world. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, Community, Compassion, Courage, forgiveness, Jesus, ministry, Mission, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Sermons, Social Justice, Social Ministry, spirituality, Theology, Wealth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Evangelicals Today

Posted on November 1, 2018 by tmrichmond3

I used to consider myself an Evangelical. But then came the Moral Majority, and the politicization of faith. I felt more and more uncomfortable with my colleagues, and able to say less and less about them. I watched them head … Continue reading →

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A Call to Walk in the Light

Posted on October 31, 2018 by tmrichmond3
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The Abundance of Little

Posted on October 30, 2018 by tmrichmond3

In 1521 the monk Martin Luther was called to give account for his radical new teaching at the unfortunately named Diet of Worms. There were no worms eaten at the Diet of Worms. The Diet was what they called the … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, John Calvin, Martin Luther, ministry, Pastoral Ministry, Presbyterian, Reformation, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Free Book!

Posted on October 29, 2018 by tmrichmond3

So, my copies of the my book Wrestling with the Word finally arrived! I am offering a free copy to the first ten people who message me, via my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thestillpoint3/), or who email me at thestillpoint3@gmail.com. You will … Continue reading →

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Fishers of People

Posted on October 27, 2018 by tmrichmond3
Posted in Church, Church Growth, Community, Jesus, Meme, ministry, Mission, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making the Right Mistakes

Posted on October 27, 2018 by tmrichmond3

The great jazz musician Thelonious Monk once told one of his sidemen, “You’re making all the wrong mistakes!” Monk was known as musician who did things differently, who played with a kind of dissonance that sounded like he was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Compassion, Jazz, ministry, Mission, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Social Ministry, spirituality, Thelonious Monk | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Let Us Now Praise Famous Pastors: Eugene Peterson

Posted on October 24, 2018 by tmrichmond3

To avoid being swept along by the winds of change and conducting a ministry which is mostly improvisation, one must stubbornly one’s heels into the ground.                    —Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Care More than once I have told people … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Eugene Peterson, ministry, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Wendell Berry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leading From Below

Posted on October 22, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  An old friend of mine, Joe Moran, took his son to a Catholic worship service when he was visiting his family in New York State. Joe was a former priest, and his family was very Catholic. After Joe left … Continue reading →

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What Does God Care About?

Posted on October 22, 2018 by tmrichmond3
Posted in Church, Church Growth, Jesus, Meme, ministry, Mission, Presbyterian, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment