I recently ran across a web site that seemed to be right up my alley:  Seminaries That Change The World.On first glance it combines two of the things I love most:  1) making lists (Top Five Tuesday - hello!) and 2) theological education.So I dove into the...

We've all had it: relational pain.Angry words.  Intentional oversight.  Passive aggression.  Triumphant emails.  Ended friendships.  Whether you are naturally wired to pursue confrontation or avoid it, the end result is the same  -- a...

Note: if, musically speaking, you are a product of the digital age only, this post will have very little meaning for you. You are used to hearing songs as individual selections rather than as part of the albums on which they are conceived.On the other hand, if you...

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...