One night not too long ago, I was at the local YMCA.There were also three young men working out near me who looked to be about 19, 16, and 12. This kind of thing happens all the time, and in that particular setting I don't usually initiate conversation with people I...

There is one kind of news story that I don't ever want to be in as a pastor.You've seen the headlines, you've seen the falls, you know the stories.So to prevent sexual or relational immorality in the pastorate, I've found it helpful to live by certain...

I'm going to miss Lost And Found.I think it's been one of our strongest series ever, combining extraordinarily good music with the kind of bible-study-snuck-into-a-sermon with which people resonate.In the way Lost And Found told Elijah's story, it was really a drama...

Ah, the dreaded Trust Fall.If you've ever been on any kind of youth retreat -- especially during the 80s and 90s -- you've probably taken part in one.Trust is difficult to earn yet easy to lose.  Hard to give and simple to take back.Yet when our lives are...

Here's a collection of some things I've seen, some other things I've learned, and some things that have simply happened in my life over the last couple of months.1.  I just started using the Calendar feature on Outlook.  That means that only in the summer of...

When we think of Paul authoring his New Testament epistles -- whether it's the theological tour de force of Romans or the personal plea of Philemon -- we typically envision him in this posture:Alone with his thoughts and his God, pen in hand, parchments on desk, and,...

As one of my friends reminded me, I preached a lot last week.Three times on one Sunday, followed by four night-time sermons at the Pleasant Grove Camp Meeting, followed by three times again the next Sunday.  That is actually more times than anyone should ever be...

I have been more than grateful for the impact that the Lost And Found series has had on people's lives at Good Shepherd.People are finding themselves deep inside Elijah's story, and as a result they are also discovering the kind of practical healing that the prophet...

Back against the wall.Feel like giving up.No good options.Had enough.Whatever the cliche, you feel like the guy in the picture when you stop believing that tomorrow will be any better than today.It's where some of you are.It's also where Elijah found himself --...

Wait. You're thinking that the Osmonds are Mormons for goodness sake, and no matter how much theological latitude we allow in the United Methodist Church, we're not that.Except that's not what the post is about.Instead, many local United Methodist congregations...