“No problem.” We hear it from the lips of friends who assure us we’re not a bother. We hear it from the lips of customers who assure us they’ll wait. We hear it from the lips of vacationers who assure us the laid back lifestyle really is the best. We even say it to...
#TBT — Princeton Tennis, 1982
I received this photo in a group text with some college tennis friends this week. What memories! This is from the spring of 1982, my sophomore year in college. Why are our sweatsuits cream and blue? I have no idea -- the school colors are orange and black (tiger...
Yet Another Example Of Just How Well They’re Listening
I received this from a Good Shepherd mom this week: Add this to your "Kids Say" file... One of my sons picked up a Kids Bible to, let's say, thump his brother over the head. I told him, "The Bible is not a weapon!" And he says, "No, it's a library." Of course I...
“How Much More” Week 3 — The “God’s Love Language” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Showed how much more fun -- and meaningful -- it is to preach THE BIBLE rather than simply BIBLE VERSES; Had a sermon intro inspired by the method of Andrew Forrest; Had a heavy dose of material from both family of origin and my own nuclear...
The Pastoral Sherlock Holmes — Preaching And The Sacred Act Of Noticing
Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is one of the most portrayed characters in the history of fiction, film, and stage. Doyle’s four novels and fifty-six short stories involving Scotland Yard’s favorite sleuth have multiplied into hundreds of movies, television...
From Reluctant Mentoring To Adequate Leadering
If you've read this space before, you know that I have made confessions like: I'm better at leading the congregation than I am at leading the staff; or I'm a disciplined person but not a very disciplined leader; or I'm better at dealing with one or with 2,000 than I...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Things You Might Not Think I’d Miss During Quarantine But I Do
Everyone misses human interaction, large gatherings, family ties, and, yes, live sports. But I've been pondering the less overt things that I miss ... and that I'm eager to start up again. Here they are: One. Blessing houses. Every Thursday for the past 20 years,...
How Much More, Week 2 — The “Rocks & Hard Places” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Was PRECEDED by a marvelous Easter medley that included "King Of Kings," "Raise A Hallelujah," and "Because He Lives," among others. Was FOLLOWED by a high voltage version of "Ain't No Grave." The musical wrap-around was so good I have...
Making Princeton … Proud?
Look who's there in this month's Princeton Alumni Weekly in the Class of 1984's "News & Notes" section. I think the class editor, a very nice guy named Stephen Ban, whom I did not know while we were undergrads, accurately interprets my expression on...
Those Kids Are Listening REALLY, REALLY Closely
A Good Shepherd mom sent me this photo of her seven year old son ... ... with the following explanatory note with it: Hi! I just wanted to share with you something that happened at home today. During his free time, [my son] took a Bible and found the book of...