Yesterday we launched the Wildest Dreams series which will take us through the Christmas season by looking at the dream communication that recurs throughout Matthew 1 and 2.And I knew that I wanted to begin the series by talking about Broken Dreams and I also knew...
Good Shepherd's most recent Radical Impact Project was our #FillATruck effort with Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.Last year, as some of you know, we had a goal of 2,000 and the people of the church filled and returned 2,800.So this year, our goal was more than...
I'm treating this day before Thanksgiving as a day of confession.And you, my readers, are my de facto confessional booth.So here are some random items that cause me just a little embarrassment . . .1. I really like Katy Perry's song Roar. Really.2. I...
It is that week, after all.A week full of running to the airport, raking leaves, eating well, and giving thanks.So what are some musical touch points for those who want to give thanks? In particular, what songs we sing in church contribute to this...
Yesterday, we did not have what's often called "Youth Sunday."Nope.We had a regular "Adult Sunday" with our adult band leading worship, regular greeting team providing the hospitality, and even an 11:30 believer baptism. Yesterday was unique, however, in...
Think of it.There is a young girl in Guatemala who in a few weeks will open the Operation Christmas Child shoebox you are preparing.Or a little boy in Tanzania.Or a set of siblings in India.You get the picture.What you prepare today will literally be in some...
We had people join officially as members of Good Shepherd United Methodist last night.That's right. On a Wednesday night and not on a Sunday morning. Here's what it looked like . . . . . . and here's what happened:We wanted to give people a...
A few weeks ago, a friend directed me to a priceless sentence from the "How It Works" section of Alcoholics Anonymous' "Big Book":Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like,what happened,and what we are like now.That's how...
The Methodist blogosphere is roiling these days with a bishop receiving reprimand, pastors standing trial, and opinions going viral.So given the headiness and heaviness of this week, I couldn't resist taking a step back from all the maneuvering and posturing to let...
Here's our current Radical Impact Project: we want to fill this truck with Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.In 2012, our goal was 2,000 shoe boxes. The people of Good Shepherd brought back 2,800. So much for goals.So this year, we want to go...