One of the most under-rated songs from Bruce Springsteen's catalog is Local Hero off the Lucky Town album. Here are some local heroes of mine.Eleven volunteers from Good Shepherd who are spending this week in New Orleans, Louisiana.Far from Bourbon Street.They are...
When is a song about creation actually about something much more than creation?When that song is Psalm 148. Or even Genesis 1.As we build towards the crescendo of praise the concludes the book of Psalms, we're going to see this week that what looks to be a gentle song...
This is my friend Sammy Gonzalez.He is Good Shepherd's new Intern Espanol.For several years, we have had a fledgling ministry with our Spanish speaking friends and neighbors. The ministry has centered around English As A Second Language classes (ESL), simultaneous...
Why do we do this?I'm not asking about the band or the instruments or the visuals.My question is much more basic than that.Why do we sing together as part of Sunday morning worship?Would it make a difference if we didn't?We'll tackle those questions on Sunday morning....
I've confessed before: I find preaching on the Psalms to be a difficult exercise.So last summer, we devoted all of July to Psalm 23 in a series called Still.This summer, we're back at it again.Psalm 146-150 -- the last five songs in the Psalter -- represent a...
This week 63 of our middle & high school students, along with adult volunteers, are headed to Mt. Union, Pennsylvania for Creation Fest 2010.Think Woodstock for Jesus.They'll have four days of camping, concerts, seminars, and community.Our BigHouse ministry has...
. . . and leave it on.And while you're at it, bring some of your best questions about the text of the bible with you.You'll see how those two elements -- your cell phone and your questions -- mesh together as we wind up the Text Message series with an experience...
Since 2006, Rich Tuttle has served as our Pastor of Congregational Care. In that time, he has demonstrated a rare gift for helping people navigate the most difficult seasons of life: grief, sickness, and family strife. He excels at what people in the ministry call a...
What a goal for a series of messages: that people would READ THE BIBLE.This week we get intensely practical on what that looks like.And then we'll bring some surprises as far as what happens when you actually read it. It's not what you'd expect.I'm so glad we've done...
I truly enjoy teaching First Step, our membership exploration class at Good Shepherd.It allows me to get to know a group of 20-25 people who are new to the church in an informal, conversational setting.It gives me a forum to lay out what I believe are the essentials...