So it's Week 2 of Old School.And honestly, if we don't get this one right, the rest of it all falls apart.What does it mean and what does it not mean when we say,And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord?The answer might surprise you.Sunday.8:30. 10. ...
The Power Of Ambient Sound
Our church recently installed what could be called, for better or worse, Christian Muzak.Which means that throughout our hallways and lobbies and bathrooms there is a continual stream of contemporary Christian pop music. Subtle yet unmistakable.Whether it's the...
Preaching Like Seinfeld
Behold Jerry Seinfeld's observations on winning a silver medal at the Olympics:And that's his genius: he sees deeply into the absurdities that most people barely notice, much less take time to reflect on. Then he says what he sees.Really, what he gives...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Things People Do When They Find Out I’m A Preacher
There are relatively few places in our immediate area (Steele Creek, Lake Wylie, Fort Mill) where I can be genuinely incognito.I've lived here just long enough and we are just large enough as a church that it is inevitable someone in any public setting knows that I am...
Just How Big “The Heavens & The Earth” Really Are
To help people grasp the scope of creation during yesterday's service on "I Believe In God The Father Almighty, Maker Of Heaven & Earth," we showed this video:It helped (I think!) to reinforce yesterday's bottom line: God the Father Almighty is the...
Old School Launch
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker Of Heaven And Earth . . . So begins one of the oldest compilations of the church’s beliefs, a bold declaration known asThe Apostles’ Creed.Some of you grew up reciting it in church every week. Others had more...
Sometimes
Sometimes . . . . . . . I have two Nutrageouses after lunch. . . . I wonder if anyone will show up for church on Sunday. . . . I wish I could still have Frosted Mini-Wheats for breakfast. . . . when I'm driving alone and I see yet another of those...
Grace Breaks Out During A Survey
This past Sunday we took the unusual step of distributing and completing a survey during our worship gathering.At all four services, we took ten minutes and worshipped by completing a snapshot questionnaire that helps us gauge where we are most (and least) effective...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Southern Rock Songs
Having grown up in Texas and lived most of my adult life in North Carolina, I've had no small amount of exposure to Southern Rock.It's not my favorite genre of music by a long shot. It's also not very easy to define.I mean, who exactly qualifies as a Southern...
What If Churches Had A Draft?
I peeked in at the NFL Draft Coverage on a couple of different occasions this past weekend.As you would expect, there was bloviating galore from the experts on which teams were winners in the draft, which were losers; which prospects are can't miss and which are...