WHY We Do WHAT We Do

Some time ago, I received an email from a friend at Good Shepherd.  My friend is in recovery from alcoholism, so that is a frequent subject of our conversations together, and he knows how much joy I get from his journey to sobriety. Here's part of his email: I wanted...

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Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reasons I ALWAYS Root For SMU

This past weekend was a good weekend for SMU sports.  First, their football team beat the University of North Texas (um, formerly called North Texas State University) 65-35. Second, their graduate Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open golf tournament. My delight with...

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Getting Carried Away With Paul

Getting Carried Away With Paul

I have found myself wanting to get carried away like Paul recently. What do I mean by that? Scattered throughout his letters, there are times when Paul becomes so exuberant about the subject at hand that he simply gets carried away. It's almost always when he is...

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When You Sow Some Massively Small Seeds

When You Sow Some Massively Small Seeds

One day several years ago I was the Rivergate shopping center when a man approached me to strike up a conversation. "You came to my house a couple of years ago to invite us to church," he said. "And I just want you to know that we've been coming ever since." Now: that...

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#TBT — Six Degrees Of Stan Smith Separation

#TBT — Six Degrees Of Stan Smith Separation

My friend and fellow Good Shepherd Staffer Shannon Schauber recently took a trip to Hilton Head Island, SC. While there, he took a tour of the lighthouse at Sea Pines Plantation, noticed this tennis-related display therein, decided I would probably know something...

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“We Can’t WAIT For October 4!”

Yesterday my friend Fabian Avigliano sent me this message: What is the big deal about October 4? It's when Good Shepherd returns to live, indoor worship as a community. The times are changed.  The setting will be different.  The expectations altered.  But the Gospel...

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Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Songs Involving Rivers

Julie and I spent the early hours of Labor Day hiking alongside the Catawba River. Which, of course, got me thinking:  what are some good songs that capture the movement and mystery of rivers? Here they are: One. River, by Jason Isbell.  This is the newest -- and best...

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