We've all had it: relational pain. Angry words. Intentional oversight. Passive aggression. Triumphant emails. Ended friendships. Whether you are naturally wired to pursue confrontation or avoid it, the end result is the same -- a relationship that had been at the core...
I still remember my first one point sermon. It was in the fall of 2006, during a series called Freedom, in a message on forgiveness involving Jacob, Esau, and Joseph. It landed here: Forgiveness is learned, so teach it well. I tell you of that sermon from days gone...
Julie and I spent the week of January 6-12 in Prague, the Czech Republic. Why would we go to Prague? In January? To visit with our son Riley and his wife Natalie in the middle of their year-long mission to that Central European country. Riley and Natalie are with Cru...
While the people of Good Shepherd were worshipping in spirit and truth yesterday, Julie and I were returning from a week in Prague, Czech Republic. Who goes to Prague in January? Empty nesters who are visiting their son and his wife. More on THAT tomorrow, of...
If you missed last week's launch of the "Missing Peace" series, here's the highlight video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2402600903386971 This week promises to be both relevant and helpful. It's called "Through It All" (Not "Around It All," not "Avoid It...
Back on December 28, 2019 (the last decade, depending on how you count it), I attended a wedding at which I did not preside. Huh? Eric Matras, a friend from church, married Angie Wiggins, ANOTHER friend from church. It turns out that Eric didn't want me to be there...
Check this out: My preacher friend John Franklin Howard very kindly reached out to me, I agreed, he got the Uwharrie District to support it and VOILA! The same day the book releases, I get to lead a group of preachers ... on the contents of the book. I hope the result...
Back in November, I had a blog about my new favorite Band, Dawes, while listing their top five songs. You can read it here. However, in my Dawes' Naivete at the time, I didn't even know they had two additional albums that I had never heard. Now I have. And they're...
Yesterday's sermon ... Started a series we're very excited about, as it deals with depression, anxiety, and stress; Led to a song Chris Macedo composed, not even knowing my sermon was about the same subject; Resulted in this bottom line: We want peace as a condition...
The first series of any year is important. Churches and pastors have an opportunity to engage with people whose New Year's Resolution includes "trying church again"; we have an opportunity to minister to folks who are IN TOWN all month long; and we can connect with...