Conversations from the Couch

Author: Dr. Philip W. Turner

  • Dying to Preference, Living to mission

    One of the quiet challenges of church life is learning the difference between what I prefer and what truly serves the mission of… Read more.

  • Growing Pains

    Scripture: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)“Unless a grain of… Read more.

  • Covered Dish

    They are as common in the local church as Bibles and hymnals. The covered dish dinners. Potluck suppers. Those fellowship… Read more.

  • Adventures in missing the point

    We take pictures everywhere now of everything and of everyone with our smartphones. The technology allows us to capture moments… Read more.

  • Thursday Morning Church

    Thursday Morning Church They started lining up early for church to begin. Imagine that—arriving early to be first through the… Read more.

  • Sometimes You Feel Like Screaming

    Sometimes you feel like screaming. Not because you are being dramatic or because you are trying to draw attention to… Read more.

  • The Last Golden Tree

    Psalm 90:17 — “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us…” I often drive through Hollywood Cemetery… Read more.

  • Cracks in the Walls, Cracks in the Heart: Pastoring Pine Street

    I have neuropathy in my feet. They often tingle and feel numb. Over the years, I’ve had several knee surgeries,… Read more.

  • Poles

    Poles. Telephone poles. I’ve used them to hang signs for our church’s outdoor movies for 25 years. I’ve walked the… Read more.

  • I Will Listen

    I often find myself in conversations where I’m not sure what people are saying, so I have to stop and… Read more.

  • Absorption Rate

    The rate of absorption refers to how quickly something is taken into a substance or a system. With pharmaceuticals, it might… Read more.

  • Deep Sadness

    Most of us can relate to having a sad day. For various reasons, the day did not give us much… Read more.

  • Identity

    “After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the name given… Read more.

  • Returning

    “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”… Read more.

  • Treasures of the Heart

    “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2: 19) The heart and mind of… Read more.

  • Tell Your Story

    “When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it… Read more.

  • Haste

    “So, they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.” (Luke 2:16)          Emily… Read more.

  • Together

    “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now… Read more.

  • When Heaven Moves

    “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God… Read more.

  • Signs

    “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in… Read more.