I can't wait for Sunday.I feel that most weeks, but especially this Sunday, June 13.I'll be attempting something I've never quite tried before. To borrow a cliche, it's "outside of my comfort zone."But I believe it has the potential to be extremely helpful in the...
I'm leaning left these days.Politics? On occasion, but not as a matter of course.Theology and doctrine? Extremely rare.Behind the steering wheel? No, my car is in excellent alignment.Instead, I'm leaning left because I've got a nasty case of bicep tendonitis in my...
Today, Julie and I celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary.I posted my reflections on our 25th here. Twenty-six obviously doesn't have the same ring of nostalgia and accomplishment behind it as does twenty-five. It's not named after a precious gem and we won't be...
We had our monthly healing service on Monday night, and I continue to marvel at the delicate balance between prayer and touch.The bible contains many references to the "laying on of hands" -- and the practice is typically associated with ordination to ministry,...
This is how I like church to go. In the morning, we launched Text Message, a series about the nature and scope of the bible.Then to supplement the Sunday morning teaching, we offered the first of our ConTXT seminars on Sunday night.As Sunday morning rolled around, we...
God sent us a text message.We should probably read it.How's that for a series goal?To get people to read the bible.Not exactly a new concept.But I'm excited how we are going to go about it.I'm especially excited about our Sunday night seminars designed to supplement...
A lot of what we try around here doesn't work. I could write a book on all that, I suppose.But every once in awhile, we stumble on something that does work. Through a combination of a good idea, focused efforts, and the hand of God, some of our ministries really come...
During seminary, I received training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). By placing seminarians in institutional settings -- in my case, the cardiac unit of Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY -- CPE prepares clergy to engage in meaningful ministry with people...
In honor of The French Open, today's Top Five Tuesday involves tennis.And since the French Open happens in Paris, I thought it appropriate to focus on the beauty inherent in the game. So: the top five most beautiful shots in tennis. The list is highly subjective, of...
Ethics.Morality.Honesty.Courage.Integrity.Compromise.Or no compromise.Do any of these have any place in the workplace? If so, how? And what in the world does a story about three guys thrown into a blazing hot furnace have to do with any of it?As The Office winds up,...