Some thoughts I shared about Wimbledon in the space before . . .Top Five Tuesday: Top Five Wimbledon Moments I have never been to Wimbledon. Something about sitting in a cold rain in early July doesn't appeal to me.And for the last 24 years, I haven't been able to...

When Jesus says, "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven," that's a problem.It runs so contrary to everything we've heard about grace, the cross, redemption, and possibility.Plus, there's that slight issue:  what is blasphemy against...

When I was in college, I read a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne called "The Unpardonable Sin."It was creepy, melancholy, and thoroughly absorbing.  I even wrote a paper on it in which I identified that the unpardonable sin was a throwaway line tucked at the...

I was speaking with a good friend awhile back about the difference between exhortational preaching and evocative preaching.Exhortational preaching challenges. Urges. Implores. It is filled with phrases like "you should" and "we ought" and "do this" and "consider...

I had dinner last night with six friends from Good Shepherd:Seated:  Chris Myers, Jason Handschumacher, and Erica Handschumacher.Standing:  Me, Nicole Jones, Michelle Scullock, and Mike Thompson.Most of the group had not met one another before we gathered...

I spent much of last week at the 2014 Western North Carolina Annual Conference Meeting of the United Methodist Church in scenic Lake Junaluska, NC.It's a yearly event -- think maybe that's why they call it the Annual Conference? -- that gathers about 2000 preachers...

Yesterday's third sermon in the "Head Scratchers" series was a lot of fun.It also served as a reminder of the kind of things we treasure at Good Shepherd.The sermon began, as all of them have in this series, with a innovative way to do the Scripture reading.  I...

Here's the rock in Caesarea Philippi in front of  which Jesus uttered the words:You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not overcome it.So what's all that about?  Peter, a rock, a cave. gates, or...

Thirty-five years ago this week -- June 16, 1979 -- I played the best tennis match of my life in winning the Texas State Championship for Boys' 18-and-under.I was 17 and was not favored to beat my 18-year-old opponent in the finals.  But it was one of those rare...

Just this week, Good Shepherd's very own Amber Carter was named the Valedictorian of Renaissance School Of Olympic High.  Amber has literally grown up in our church, preached for me last November, and this week is serving as a leader in our Vacation Bible...