This journal-blog is the story of the church I served for 28 years from 1985 until December 2013. In this blog I am recording my personal experiences as pastor of the Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church located in Saginaw, Michigan. This blog is made up of two sections: Part one focuses on the statistics, structures and processes in doing ministry in this church. Part two re-tells the story of this church as I organized my mininstry around the church mission statement.

As a Presbyterian pastor for over 28 years, I have made the decision to prepare this collection of sixteen sermons for my family and friends and others who may be interested in them. These are among my favorite sermons. Instead of keeping them locked in a box or on my computer hard-drive, I thought I might be some value in putting these sermons into book form. Honestly, the only real life these sermons breathe was when they were first preached. I would stand in the pulpit asking God to bless the Word I was called to share. I cannot judge them as being either good or adequate or bad. These...