The best part of the Gods At War series for me as been the focus on Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. We usually skip the first phrase and jump right to the "desires of your heart" part. Nope. "B" there comes after...
They’re Always Listening
On Tuesday morning, I received this text message from a fine young man who is a senior in one of our area high schools: After I answered, "Limerence," I asked if he had it or if a girl at his school had it for him. "Neither," came his reply. "It's for a school project...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Things I Learned From Football
This is the 150th year of college football, which is kind of ironic since my most vivid earliest memories of the game surround its 100th anniversary. That year, Texas won the National Championship during a season in which its most epic game was a 15-14...
Gods At War, Week 3 — The “Lovesick” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Began dictionarily and ended Christologically;Referenced the sickness of an elevator music song with the lyrics "it's sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along";Had ANOTHER shoutout to "you complete me" PLUS a wardrobe...
The Irony Of Christ-Likeness
One of the most oft-repeated phrases in evangelicalism is "Christ-likeness." As in, "the goal of discipleship is to grow us in Christ-likeness." Or: "we mature in faith as we become more Christ-like." Or even at a memorial service: "she (or he) was one of the most...
Exhort? Or Evoke?
Several years ago, I was speaking with a friend on the difference between exhortational preaching and evocative preaching. Exhortational preaching challenges. Urges. Implores. It is filled with phrases like “you should” and “we ought” and “do this” and “consider...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Things Heard And Overheard At The Wesleyan Covenant Association’s “Large Church” Pastors Gathering
I spent three days last week in rainy Orlando, Florida at the Wesleyan Covenant Association's Large Church Pastor's Gathering. It was three days of worship, education, information, and encouragement. On Day One of the gathering, I even got to present a slice of the...
Gods At War, Week 2 — The “Pleasure Center” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Was one of those drawing from a number of places in Scripture rather than a concentrated focus on one section;Was one with which I wrestled all week trying to get the internalizing and the timing down;Was one of the rare ones that was OK at...
Burying The Lede
Well, not really. But keep reading long enough and you'll find me. Check it here. https://www.christianpost.com/news/adam-hamilton-says-umc-will-lose-at-least-3400-churches-next-year-over-lgbt-debate.html
John Wesley’s Epitaph
John Wesley started a religious movement in the 1700s that eventually became the United Methodist Church. I heard this week about his epitaph. Here it is: Revive, enforce, and defend the pure apostolic doctrines and practices of the primitive church. Huh.