While I'm a proud Methodist, it's not often that I quote John Wesley in this space.Yet a friend sent me these words from Wesley's journal during an election year:Thur. 6. - "I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To...
Equal Opportunity Idolatry?
I'm interrupting my normal "Top Five Tuesday" routine -- and I love my routines -- because an article in Monday's Charlotte Observer revealed that this past Sunday (October 28) was one of the saddest days for the church in this area in a long, long time.I don't know...
Sermonic Amnesia
As most of you know, I preach without any notes.And as many of you know, I have a fairly involved process for becoming familiar with the material I have prepared so that I can deliver without any assistance.Except yesterday at both the 8:30 and 10:00 services, I had...
Farewell, Lenny Stadler
When I was a young preacher in Monroe, North Carolina, the ministry of Lenny Stadler at Weddington United Methodist Church almost defied belief.Throughout the decade of the 1990s, he led what had been a sleeply little country church into the kind of growth that made...
Personal Ministry In A Digital Age
Here's one of the questions I recently asked each of our staff to consider:How can my schedule be as full of face-to-face interactions with people as it is full of nose-to-screen interactions with my computer?Answering that question well is one of the great challenges...
DS For A Day
The position of District Superintendent (usually called "DS" by insiders) within the United Methodist Church is something to which I have never aspired and for which I am ill-qualified.And yet on Tuesday night that's exactly what I was.Here's how and here's why: ...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reasons Why I Like Saturday Football Better Than Sunday
On most weekends in the fall, I spend at least some time watching football.College on Saturday and pro on Sunday.And this year, it has become crystal clear to me that I enjoy the Saturday experience much more than Sunday. I'm sure that part of that bias is...
A Week In Texts
Over the last week, I traveled to northern Indiana for some continuing education with a group of North Carolina Methodists and my son Riley spent his fall break with some college friends in Charleston, SC.As a result, we communicated more than usual by text...
Gospel, Week Three — Gospel Change
Who doesn't need a little Kenny Chesney on this Friday?Some people do change.But most people don't.How is it that we can apply Gospel power so that we're in the former but not the latter?Sunday.8:30. 10. 11:30.
The Bible As Adventure Story
Every once in awhile, I get a fresh reminder of how the division of the bible into chapters and verses can actually get in the way of our encounter with Scripture.Case in point: this week, as part of preparation for a Men's Life Group Bible Study I lead on Sunday...