One thing I have noticed in my frequent watching of the Tennis Channel is a new phrase in on-court commentary: "He is a master at turning defense into offense." In other words, certain players through their combination of foot speed and racket skill can hit an...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Characteristics Of The Gospel Of Mark
By way of review: the bible is not a book. It is a library. Many different authors, multiple writing styles, written over a long span of time. And like any good library, the bible has a biography section. Four biographers (also known collectively as evangelists) --...
A King’s Ransom, Week 3 — The “King Of The Hill” Sermon Rewind
On almost every Sunday morning, I meet with two friends who pray with me at 7:45 and declare with confidence, "Hey guys, guess what? It's gonna be great!" Part of that, I'm sure, is talking myself into that same conviction. Yesterday, however, was different. I met...
A King’s Ransom Week 3 — “King Of The Hill”
This looks like an unlikely place for a king's coronation, doesn't it? And yet in the way Mark tells Jesus' story, that hill far away is exactly where Jesus' kingship was unveiled and unleashed. He was made King Of The Hill ... and declared King On The Hill. What does...
Confusing PREFERENCE For STRATEGY
In church leadership, it is quite tempting to confuse personal preference for effective church strategy. For example, a few years ago, I could have come up with a different U2 song to go along with virtually every message I gave (these days it would trend more towards...
Unintended Consequences
When this tennis racket ... the Original Prince Pro (Green) ... was released in the late 1970s, it was revolutionary. Those of you who played back in that day remember thinking, "that's it. Tennis will always and forever be played ONLY AT THE NET. With a big...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reflections From A Weekend Just Past
In reflecting over the last several days, I realized that this past weekend was an unusual one. Some of it filled with mirth, other parts of it loaded with majesty, all of it making a testimony to the goodness of God. Here are the five highlights (and you must read...
A King’s Ransom, Week 2 — The “Fit For A King” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Started right with the Scripture, pointing out that Mark 15:15-20 is an OLD story with a MODERN sensibility; Noted that irony, sarcasm, and mockery dominate every moment of the scene; Gave a quick shout out to mega church pastors who cause many...
A King’s Ransom, Week 2 — “Fit For A King”
Scripture is a never-ending reservoir of truth, power, and beauty. Here's why I say that today. I have been reading the bible regularly for 39 years now. That includes the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. And of those four Gospels, I...
#TBT — San Antonio, June 16, 1979
Continuing a nostalgia theme for this week's post, here is an article from a San Antonio newspaper (The Light? The Express? The Light-Express?) on June 16, 1979: Oh the Jack Kramer racket. The adidas clothes. The slice backhand return of serve. Those days are...