As I was helping someone with their next steps in faith on Wednesday night, I realized again how the whole of the gospel -- indeed, the whole of the Christian life -- is summarized in Philippians 1:21:Christ in me is to live, to die is to gain.That says it all,...

For a variety of reasons, Hebrews 10:24 has been on my mind recently:And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.Well, since the author of Hebrews asks us to "consider" how it is that we can "spur on" others in the Body of Christ to...

While trying to help someone navigate some particularly difficult terrain in life this week, the following truth occurred to me:Provision follows obedience.The provision of God generally follows obedience to God.Usually, we want it to happen the other way around....

I recently added two exercises to what I do at the Y.The first is called the deadlift, which helps strengthen the lower back:The second is called the squat, which helps primarily with thighs:(The fact that I can do either is no small miracle, because when I first...

Last night I went with some of our students to an event sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Fort Mill High.Four students -- not from Good Shepherd but from the different FCAs in York County -- gave testimonies.The speaking was not polished.The...

In Exodus 3, God introduces himself to Moses.Here's what God says as part of the introduction, and I have put the verbs in bold:7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am...

Over the past weekend, I saw two small acts of kindness that communicated large measures of grace.Both of them involved teenagers, and both were reminders that God is still at work in the world.First, on Friday night as we were watching Riley's football game -- they...

To say that Hagar is not a biblical hero is something of an understatement.We easily preach sermons on Abraham, Moses, Ruth, and even Jacob.But Hagar? Not so much.She's a maidservant for goodness sakes. She's "the other woman" -- in a sense used by Abraham for...

Hebrews 3:1 says it this way:Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling,fix your thoughts on Jesus,the apostle and high priest whom we confess.My thoughts usually range from Good Shepherd to ESPN to Julie and my kids and then back to Good Shepherd....

William Faulker famously noted, "The past isn't dead. It isn't even past."I wonder if he ever spent time in my office.People bring a lot of baggage from their past that ends up poisoning their present. Both things done to them and things they've done to...