Yesterday's opening sermon in the PrayFast was quite a departure from the norm . . . but that's going to be the case for each message in the series. Here's some of what was different: We concluded the sermon by doing -- together! -- a "dress rehearsal" for a daily...

On this final day of 2015, here's some of what I'd like to see in 2016:   Don Henley to bring a tour of solo material to the Charlotte area. Ann Patchett to release a new novel. Roger Federer to win one more Grand Slam tournament. The Golden State Warriors to...

So I like to read a lot. I read to fall asleep.  I read on days off. I read out in the sun.  I read on vacation. I read while traveling.  I read while I'm driving. OK, that last one was a lie.  Except for text messages. Anyway, as 2015 winds down, here are the books...

On the last Sunday of November, 2015, we asked the people of the church to make this pledge:   So here are my questions as the month of December winds down: 1.  Did you make a "Pause Pledge"? 2.  To what extent did you keep your "Pause Pledge"? 3.  What...

Christmas Eve sermons are a challenge. For one . . . what can you say that people haven't heard before? For two . . . should you even say anything that people haven't heard before? For three . . . how best approach the evening?  Gently? Boldly? Evangelistically? ...

Here's what we got:  

Here's an unusual Top Five Tuesday . . . the five best things that happened in church this past Sunday at Good Shepherd. 1.  Chris Macedo & Team's haunting, chilling, gorgeous version of Christmas Hallelujah.  So good, in fact, that I want to give you the chance...

Thrones has kind of taken me by surprise. In a good way. We've had salvations, we've had tears, we've had anointed music, and yesterday we had this as a bottom line: Incomplete knowledge doesn't prevent complete surrender....

This is not a political statement:   Instead, this is what Jesus looked like when his mother Mary and her cousin Elizabeth had a remarkable conversation we find in Luke 1:39-45. I can't wait to dig into that passage with you on Sunday.  We'll excavate and then...

As we dive headlong into the Christmas season and its nativity stories, I have found myself in a couple of different settings explaining how each Gospel begins. Because I believe that how each begins also shapes how each one ends.  Let me show you what I mean. Matthew...