No, I won't be telling the story of Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue.But I will be telling the story someone else who for all intents and purposes took the money and ran.To see what I mean and to prepare for the message, check out Luke 16:1-12.We'll try to make sense out of a...

Drivers  cut across three lanes of traffic to turn left while coming out of the convenience stores that line Carowinds Boulevard?People talk on their cell phones while working out at the Y?Friends tell you long stories that don't have a good punch...

Where, exactly, do theology and strategy meet?Simply put, how does what you believe (theology) influence what you do and how you do it (strategy)?I ask that question because when a disconnect occurs between theology and strategy the results are negative for...

In honor of the recently completed London Olympics, today's Top Five salutes the original British Invaders: the Beatles.It's almost sacreligious to say, but I've never been an especially ardent fan.  While I admit that they are by far the most...

I didn't exactly preach the sermon Your Money Or Your Life, our second installment of Money Talks.Instead, I facilitated the conversation for those who actually did the teaching:  Jason Handschumacher and Kelly Starnes.Who are they?  Not hired guns. ...

Here's the way it was with Jack Benny:Are you "thinking it over" as well?We've come up with a creative way to talk about money, stuff, time, and faith this coming Sunday.  I'm glad to be part of it and think you will too.Sunday.8:30.  10.  11:30.

While these aren't all the lessons I've learned in 23 years of full-time parish ministry, they are the ones freshest on my mind this week . . .People like it when you remember their names.The more digital our culture becomes, the more effective are hand-written...

As a lot of you know, we take the ministry of funerals very seriously at Good Shepherd.I've blogged about it here and here.But in talking with other staffers here about how to design and deliver a eulogy that is helpful, faithful, and redemptive, we've landed at...

My occasional glance at this year's Olympics has again brought home the most troubling reality in sports:  choking.There are two ways of choking in sports.  The first happens when the athlete is so overwhelmed by the situation that he or she never really...

So yesterday we started Money Talks, a new series about faith, time, stuff, and money.Taking off from Psalm 24:1 -- the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof -- and inspired by Tony Evans, we landed together at the cautionary reminder:  Don't confuse the...