Last week the Rolling Stones released an extraordinary song inspired by the Coronavirus Pandemic: Living In A Ghost Town. It's a little bit of "Miss You," a little more of "Shattered," and a little most of "Your Love Is Strong" all rolled into one. Check it out:...
No Problem, Week One — The “Small Problem” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Launched a series inspired by Professor Joseph Okello of Asbury Seminary with whom I had a lively interaction about "points" preaching or "pointed" preaching back in October of 2019; Leaned heavily on the pacing of the early sections of Mark's...
“No Problem” Series Begins With “Small Problem”
“No problem.” We hear it from the lips of friends who assure us we’re not a bother. We hear it from the lips of customers who assure us they’ll wait. We hear it from the lips of vacationers who assure us the laid back lifestyle really is the best. We even say it to...
#TBT — Princeton Tennis, 1982
I received this photo in a group text with some college tennis friends this week. What memories! This is from the spring of 1982, my sophomore year in college. Why are our sweatsuits cream and blue? I have no idea -- the school colors are orange and black (tiger...
Yet Another Example Of Just How Well They’re Listening
I received this from a Good Shepherd mom this week: Add this to your "Kids Say" file... One of my sons picked up a Kids Bible to, let's say, thump his brother over the head. I told him, "The Bible is not a weapon!" And he says, "No, it's a library." Of course I...
How Does Clarity in Church Mission Reinforce Clarity in Preaching?
Here is just about the highest accolade I can give to Will Mancini, church consultant, author, and founder of Auxano: my wife Julie ALWAYS says she wants to meet him in person because after he brought his brand of coaching to Good Shepherd, I began to sleep so much...
“How Much More” Week 3 — The “God’s Love Language” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Showed how much more fun -- and meaningful -- it is to preach THE BIBLE rather than simply BIBLE VERSES; Had a sermon intro inspired by the method of Andrew Forrest; Had a heavy dose of material from both family of origin and my own nuclear...
The Pastoral Sherlock Holmes — Preaching And The Sacred Act Of Noticing
Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is one of the most portrayed characters in the history of fiction, film, and stage. Doyle’s four novels and fifty-six short stories involving Scotland Yard’s favorite sleuth have multiplied into hundreds of movies, television...
From Reluctant Mentoring To Adequate Leadering
If you've read this space before, you know that I have made confessions like: I'm better at leading the congregation than I am at leading the staff; or I'm a disciplined person but not a very disciplined leader; or I'm better at dealing with one or with 2,000 than I...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Things You Might Not Think I’d Miss During Quarantine But I Do
Everyone misses human interaction, large gatherings, family ties, and, yes, live sports. But I've been pondering the less overt things that I miss ... and that I'm eager to start up again. Here they are: One. Blessing houses. Every Thursday for the past 20 years,...