The Bible Study book Solve was released on May 17, 2016. The 2015 Solutionists series and the book that comes from it are both based on Nehemiah, one of Scripture’s neglected superstars. As I was involved in the creation and editing process, I wanted to reach out to...
The “Making Sure Your Tongue Doesn’t Tie You Up” Sermon Rewind
I'm not going to lie. I liked yesterday's message a lot. I liked the set up for the sermon -- a song by Don Henley & Trish Yearwood called Words Can Break Your Heart. Don and Trisha weren't with us in person, mind you, but their roles were filled more than...
Preventology, Week 5 — “Making Sure Your Tongue Doesn’t Tie You Up”
Anyone ever gotten in trouble because of something you said? Yeah, me too. That's why I think this week's Preventology message is one of the most important in the series. The book of Proverbs, our guide to preventing crises rather than managing them, has a lot to say...
#TBT — Some Famous 32s
Through the years, there have been some high profile athletes sporting #32 on their jersey. First there was Jim Brown: Then, OJ. You know, before: My favorite football 32 was not so well known . . . unless you grew up in Dallas and loved the Cowboys:...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Elements Of A Good Wedding Ceremony
Maybe it's because my own 32nd anniversary is coming up on Thursday. Maybe it's because I have a spate of weddings over the next few months. Maybe it's because that spate includes that of my own son & his fiance. But I've been thinking about what makes a good...
Preventology, Week 4 — How To Avoid The COMING ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
So is this what our future looks like? Is it inevitable? Will it be impact everyone? Or . . . will it be Donald's fault? Hillary's? Or the Libertarian candidate's? Or is there a completely different way to approach money, resources, and national crises? I...
Bring The Shout Back
If you Google the words “Shouting Methodist,” you’ll discover that the phrase is not an oxymoron. Instead, you’ll read these words in the first article: One name commonly applied to early nineteenth century Methodists was “shouting Methodists” – a name Methodists were...
Hey World: I’m Religious, NOT Spiritual
Few sayings strike more fear into or evoke more apologies out of 21st Century evangelicals than the ubiquitous: I'm spiritual, not religious. We hear it from skeptical family members, from tweed-jacketed professors, from latte-slurping millennials, and we fall all...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Observations From Rolling Stone’s “Ultimate Eagles’ Guide” Special Edition
With the death earlier this year of Eagles' co-founder Glenn Frey, Rolling Stone magazine just released a Special Edition, Ultimate Guide about the band. The cover promised two pieces that I simply couldn't pass up: 1) Don Henley on the making of every album and 2)...
One Sunday, TWO Bottom Lines
Yesterday at Good Shepherd featured TWO bottom lines. What? Did I abandon my one point sermon bonafides? Nope. I abandoned Charlotte, NC instead. Julie and I spent the weekend in Austin, Texas, helping my sister celebrate her 75th birthday and my mother her 100...