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Rev. Steve Durkac

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Category Archives: Mere Observations

Mere Observations posts are miscellaneous in topic but personal in perspective, commentary, and thoughts from my clergy world and view of life.

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Facing Old Age

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on March 1, 2023 by Steve DurkacMarch 1, 2023

I talked with a man in the hospital room where his wife lay dying. He was 78 years old and teary eyed as he tried to explain his feelings to me with rhetorical questions of how did life move so quickly from youth to old age, from a busy thriving life to an aching slow pace, and now coming face to face with death. He was a follower of Christ his whole life and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged 2 Corinthians 4:16, age, aging, Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, Isaiah 46:4, old age, Psalm 71:9

The Asbury Revival: No Preachers?

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on February 20, 2023 by Steve DurkacFebruary 21, 2023

Today is day 12 of students gathering in their chapel at Asbury University and personal prayer and worship is continuing strong. The public has begun making trips to visit for themselves, traveling from out-of-state, and local government has had to address the overwhelming crowds swallowing up the small city that Asbury is in. I have found this revival amazingly refreshing because it is absent of hype, persuasion, and leaders who one would expect to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged #asburyrevival, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Asbury Revival, Asbury University, Hebrews 12:2, Prayer, prayer revival, revival, Romans 10:17, Romans 12:1-2

The Asbury Revival: What’s Absent?

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on February 11, 2023 by Steve DurkacFebruary 13, 2023

I have been following with great interest the spiritual revival that is currently taking place at Asbury University in Kentucky. In case you are unaware, the students met for their regular Wednesday morning chapel service on February 8th and they are still meeting. I am seeing pictures on social media and reports that students, faculty, and people from the community are coming and going while all participating in prayer, worship, and Scripture reading. Some are … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged #asburyrevival, Asbury Revival, Asbury University, Matthew 26:40, prayer revival, revival

Worship is Cultural

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on January 25, 2023 by Steve DurkacJanuary 25, 2023

This is not something new for me to say, but I think worship — the way we worship — is very much dependent on our culture. On any given Sunday morning we’ll find churches with various formats to their worship programs. Some are very liturgical and some are very laid back. Many years ago this thought was shared with me by a missionary who was home in the states on furlough. The missionary was working … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged church, liturgy, rock band, worship, worship styles

Looking Ahead in 2023

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on January 7, 2023 by Steve DurkacJanuary 7, 2023

I’m trying to think about what’s ahead in this new year and I’m drawing a blank. I’m finding that I can’t think much beyond what’s on my schedule for the coming week. I’m not finding the energy or the motivation to optimistically set goals or lay plans that will pave the way for higher levels of accomplishments this new year. In years past, when I was younger and more career ambitious, I would spend more … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged faith, Genesis 1:1, goal setting, new year, Zig Ziglar

Turning 60 and Thinking

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on October 1, 2022 by Steve DurkacSeptember 30, 2022

Today I turn 60-years old. I know it’s a big milestone in life, but at the moment I am not finding it as depressing as I thought I would when I considered this day in years past. As I wrote before, turning 50 was an emotionally difficult thing for me because it kind of took me by surprise. I have expected the same reaction to turning 60 but it hasn’t happened. Probably because I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged age, aging, birthday, dying, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Ecclesiastes 12:8, eternal life, Solomon

Reverend, Father, Pastor as Titles?

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on September 22, 2022 by Steve DurkacSeptember 22, 2022

While I was serving as the pastor of CrossHope Chapel for 12-years, I was frequently called “Pastor” and even referred to myself as “Pastor.” Why? Because that was my role and the title my church used to address that and respectfully recognize that. The use of the word “Pastor” was a title for my role. Now biblically speaking the word is meant more as a spiritual gift one might have than a title of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged Ephesians 4:11, Father, Matthew 23:8-10, Pastor, Psalm 111:9;, Reverend

Former SDA Facebook Groups

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on September 9, 2022 by Steve DurkacSeptember 14, 2022

There is one Former Seventh-day Adventist Facebook group that I still follow, probably because it’s not as angry as the majority of these groups are. Although it has recently occurred to me that it too has the one or two critics who have found their fame in their anti-SDA cause. Over the years I have joined about all of these groups and ended up un-joining them because of the constant over-the-top expression of hate by … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged Adventist, Facebook Group, Former Adventist, Once Adventist, SDA

CrossHope Chapel

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on August 28, 2022 by Steve DurkacJanuary 9, 2023

For nearly 12-years CrossHope Chapel was an informal, simpler expression of church, where one could encounter the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, engage others in authentic New Testament fellowship, and be encouraged through the verse-by-verse study of the Bible. It was the open study of the Bible that was probably the mark of CrossHope Chapel as a church fellowship. Opening to a selected book of the Bible and reading chapter by chapter then discussing … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations, Simpler Church | Tagged Calvary Chapel, Calvary Global Network, COVID, CrossHope Chapel, House Church, Nondenominational Church, Organic Church, pastoral ministry, Simple Church

Happy Independence Day

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on July 4, 2022 by Steve DurkacJuly 4, 2022

Happy Independence Day! I share with you an insightful statement from 1906, found in today’s Maranatha devotional by E.G. White. The statement speaks in support of patriotism and against political deconstruction. Enjoy… “The Lord has done more for the United States than for any other country upon which the sun shines. Here He provided an asylum for His people, where they could worship Him according to the dictates of conscience. Here Christianity has progressed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged America in Prophecy, Ellen White, Revelation 1:3, Revelation 14, United Nations

Happy Mother’s Day

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on May 8, 2022 by Steve DurkacMay 8, 2022

On this day, Mother’s Day, I always think of a verse in the epistle of Paul to Timothy. The chapter includes some instructions to the young pastor about caring for widows and it is in the middle of this that Paul writes in regard to women as “known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children” (1 Timothy 5:10, NIV). That seemingly casual reference is a huge insight into how God perceives motherhood. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged 1 Timothy 5:10, mother's day

Happy New Year!

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on December 30, 2021 by Steve DurkacDecember 30, 2021

In my youth I often had older people tell me that time flies as you age. In recent years I have come to believe that, because I feel like I have been caught off guard on the ending of 2021. This year is over. A new one starts in just two days. As I was thinking about this Romans 13:11 came to mind, which states, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged Romans 13:11

A Brief Reflection on Christmas

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on December 19, 2021 by Steve DurkacDecember 19, 2021

The Christmas season is an opportunity for us to reflect on the first advent of our Savior, even though we may not buy into it as a religious celebration. Since leaving Catholicism I have lost a sense of obligation to celebrate Christmas with religious significance or requirement. There is no biblical command to celebrate the Savior’s birth, no certainty in the timing of the event, and Christmas has certainly become a cultural celebration. However, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged Christmas, Hebrews 9:28, Luke 2:8-11

59 and Thinking

Rev. Steve Durkac Posted on October 2, 2021 by Steve DurkacOctober 2, 2021

Yesterday I turned 59 years old and I wasn’t feeling good about it. I took my 50th birthday hard, because I realized that 50 years of my life just filtered through my hands like grains of sand at the beach. Turning 59 was not as bad for me as when I turned 50, but I am wondering about my next birthday. I’m already thinking about my next birthday when I turn 60. I’m expecting that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mere Observations | Tagged aging, birthday, kiss, Return of Jesus, Rolling Stones, second coming

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