To say that Hagar is not a biblical hero is something of an understatement.We easily preach sermons on Abraham, Moses, Ruth, and even Jacob.But Hagar? Not so much.She's a maidservant for goodness sakes. She's "the other woman" -- in a sense used by Abraham for...
The book I am currently reading (not listed in Books I Like on the left, by the way) contains this sentence:A tough customer who was determined to leave it all on the field, Somerville, like many of his teammates, played way above his head.Let's see. That's three...
I don't ride horses, wear cowboy hats, hunt deer, or eat barbecue brisket.But I am Texan.It's hard to understand if you're not from there, but if you are you know what I mean: it's always home.So I was excited to travel there this past weekend with my 18 year old son...
While I was away this weekend (more on that trip tomorrow), we showed this in Sunday's worship:Rebecca Grayson then followed that with a killer sermon called "The Love Laboratory."Something else interesting happened in worship yesterday: we received an award from Adam...
A laboratory that produces love.Full of mistakes, miscalculations, and then, when you least expect it, strokes of genius.That's what this Sunday is about.Sacred Marriage, Week Three: The Love Laboratory.Don't miss it. The Spirit's moving.Sunday.8:30. 10. 11:30.
One day this week, I took one of our staffers along for a pastoral visit with a family in the early stages of grief.As some of you know, it's the kind of work that I find challening but invigorating.On the drive back to the church, my Good Shepherd colleague and I...
This semester, we're dividing up our Passage classes into two different days meeting two different needs.Wednesday nights are care-oriented classes and groups. We launch both GriefShare and Financial Peace University tonight. Considering that the bulk of my pastoral...
"Always" and "never" are words you're never supposed to use in marital spats (or that you're always supposed to avoid), but I thought I'd give some of the leading "always" and "never" moments from my life.1. I've never won at Bingo. And in doing nursing home ministry...
We showed this before the sermon yesterday:We had two purposes:1) To emphasize the theme of the series: God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy.2) To put a face on at least part of my family. Because we have three services and because Julie,...
It's provocative but it's true.God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy.That's what Sacred Marriage teaches us.And it has been so rewarding to hear the response of the people of Good Shepherd. A lot more "a-ha" than "no way!"So we're calling...