Confessions Of A Pastor comes to a close this Sunday. We had so much fun with it that we extended the series a week from its original design!OK, there were some other reasons as well. But of all series to extend, this seemed like the one.So my last confession has to...
So we had our first Thrive Alive at the Rivergate Shopping Center this past Saturday. We have changed our Saturday Thrive worship service into an outreach event. We're taking the band on the road to four different venues in the Steele Creek area this summer.Anyway,...
One of my favorite people once said in a sermon, "Sarcasm is a spiritual gift and I have it." I do, too.It's been part of the way I talk and the way I laugh for years. I vividly remember a whole group of us in middle school who used "opposite talk" for everything.But...
Back in June, I had a couple of posts (here and here) about why we don't do fund raisers at Good Shepherd Church.But I neglected to include what is perhaps the most important reason why churches should do no fund raisers other than the weekend offering.Here it is....
You know something extraordinary happened when tennis was the lead story on SportsCenter.Yesterday's Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was the first one I have seen "live" in the 19 years I have been preaching full time. I'm usually at church...
I still remember the Bicentennial -- July 4, 1976. I was 14 and it was an enormous celebration. You can read about it here.Since I remember it so well, it means I'm old.It also means we still have a lot to be thankful for. Primarily for the boldness and courage of...
This is Week Five of Confessions Of A Pastor.This week's confession has to do with despair. I struggle with it.So do most pastors.I think there is a connection between the last two weeks. The same kind of people who are obsessed with appearances often wrestle with...
So it's Wimbledon this week. It's hard to be at work when there's grass court tennis going on.Back in the day, grass courts suited my game better than any other surface. Grass courts tennis rewards hard serves and aggressive play, both of which were my strengths....
Philippians 4:8 says this:"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- let your mind dwell on these things."In studying this verse...
This past Sunday, Methodist churches all across western North Carolina received new pastors.Now, not all Methodist churches did so. In any given year, about 20% or so of the churches in the Western North Carolina Conference say good-bye to one pastor and then hello to...