There I am, hard at work at Vacation Bible School.We're in Rome.And you know what you do when you're in Rome.So we had chariot races. The cardboard was the chariot; the teenagers were the horses.How'd we do?Take a look:By the way, that's my son Riley on the chariot in...
Pastoral Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude is such a great word. Borrowed from German, it means "satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune."And pastors have it. In spades.Sadly, our schadenfreude is usually directed at other pastors or ministries. We're not overt about it, mind...
The Art Of The Start
July is the time of year when many, many Methodist pastors begin serving new "appointments" -- they have moved from one church in the connection to begin serving another.So what's the best way for a new pastor to begin serving that "new" church? How does the pastor...
That’s What Friends Are For
Here's a video we showed in church yesterday featuring Linda Keziah and Annette Hamilton.That's what Walking Together is all about. We want to create as much space as possible for people to walk alongside each other in friendship, laughter, and joy.
Beyond unChristian
Don't miss this Sunday.Just don't do it.The music will move you, the message will surpise you, and the videos will inspire you.They all come together to complement the journey we just took in unChristian while preparing us for the journey we're going to take with...
A Hard One
There's one more verse on my list.One I don't live out very well.Jesus says this in Mark 10:43: For the greatest among you is servant of all.Wow.I think of greatness in terms of tennis victories, church accomplishments, professional accolades, and kids who make me...
And Another One
Another favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6:Trust in the Lord with all your heart &lean not on your own understanding.Think of him in all your ways,and he will make your paths straight.These are the first verses of Scripture that I ever memorized. I did so at the...
Favorite Verse
I already know what verse will be on my gravemarker. Or urn, depending on how all that goes.It's Philippians 1:21: Christ in me is to live, to die is to gain.I first heard it in a song, as a relatively new Christian attending a campus fellowship group at my college....
Lunch At Wimbledon
Ever since I entered full-time ministry in 1990, I've missed Breakfast At Wimbledon. The Men's Final always starts at 9 a.m. Eastern time on the concluding Sunday of the tournament. Tennis fans are supposed to eat strawberries and watch tennis.And I'm at work at that...
From unChristian To Christian
Six weeks ago, I admitted in a post that I get more excited over some series than others, and that unChristian was one of those series.Many of you now know why.We spread the teaching around.The music hit the mark.Videos brought home the point.And the people of Good...