Category Archives: Neil on the Loose

Looking for a new church ~ Part III

This is article 3 of 3 about our “church shopping” experience here in Sarasota Florida. You can read those at two previous posts. My point of view includes the fact that I’m a minister who used to pastor churches and … Continue reading

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Looking for a New Church ~ Part II

This is the second post on this topic. Read the first here. We’ve now visited six local congregations in our new town looking for a new church home, several of them two or three times. Over the past 12 twelve years … Continue reading

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Looking for a New Church ~Part I

This is the first of three posts I’ve made about our adventure in church shopping. You can see the other posts in my “Neil on the Loose” category of posts. I posted this first post after visiting 3 churches. We’re … Continue reading

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On the Loose in Sarasota

February 2012 Sarasota Florida Last month the family and I brought our St Croix USVI adventure to a close and relocated to Sarasota Florida, otherwise known as, “civilization.” We had a wonderful 3.5 years on the island of St Croix and … Continue reading

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The Sad Effect Leaving Had on My Kids

This is a follow-up post to my “Why I Left My Last Church” post in this “Neil on the Lam” topic. I offer it in the spirit of “don’t let this happen to you, -or to families in your church.” … Continue reading

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Chapel or Church?

I’ve been attending a church that I think is really a “chapel.” Not that I think “chapel” is a bad word. Read on…. It’s primary mission seems to be to provide worship on Sunday -offering to God, and renewing our faith … Continue reading

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Living on St. Croix, USVI

From 2008 to early 2012 my family and I lived on the island of St Croix in the Caribbean. We called it our “Great Adventure“, and indeed, it was a great experience. …and now you know why this blog is … Continue reading

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About not going to church…

Having a “choice” to get up and go to church on Sunday morning has been one of the most interesting and unnerving experiences I’ve had since I left working “for” a specific church, and began attending church as a “volunteer” once … Continue reading

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Why we left our last church…

…and what can be learned from our experience. I have edited this thing ten times. I’m sure some folks aren’t going to like what I have to say, or think I’m just ‘bitter’ as a way of avoiding the lessons here. … Continue reading

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The Wide Open Backdoor

Back Door = The door your members use to slip away from the congregation. If you suddenly stopped showing up, would anybody notice? More importantly, would anybody do anything about it? You’d like to THINK so. But our last three … Continue reading

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The Wide Open Side Door

This is another installment in my “On the Lam” blog. The following is another post about something important I learned the hard way. I hope you can use these observations to improve your church’s ministry. The Wide Open Side Door… … Continue reading

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On the Lam…

The “On the Lam” Blog Begins… I’m going to kick off this thread by telling you something not many people know about me.  I have tried three different churches in the 12 years since I left my full-time minister/parish work and moved … Continue reading

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