I probably spend 20-25 hours a week preparing messages. And 8-10 in pastoral counseling and visitation. Sometimes I wish I could counsel less so I could prepare more; other times I wish I could prepare less so I could visit more. But as I have thought about that...

Several years ago, while in a planning meeting to plan a sermon series on the Holy Spirit, our worship design team talked about some of the misperceptions people have of ministry that is truly “Spirit-filled.” If a preacher stands and announces that he is shelving...

My music tastes run decidedly to Classic Rock. The soundtrack of my youth has become the background of my, um, not youth, and I’m always good to listen to Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, or Tom Petty. All classic, all the time. Until Dawes, that is. Who?...

I’ll admit it: I’m somewhat obsessed with reading biographies of some of our best-known Presidents. In fact, I have labeled one of our bookcases my very own “Presidential Library” as it’s full of tomes on Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, Richard...

Something happened recently in the preparation, preaching, and aftermath of a sermon that I just have to tell you about. During a series on the intersection of relationships, faith, and politics, I delivered a message with this as the pointed point: Don’t burn a...

Some of you may have seen or at least heard of Sophie’s Choice, the 1982 film for which Meryl Streep won an Academy Award for Best Actress as she played the title character. I am old enough to have seen the movie, in person, in a theater, over a Christmas break while...

I have an entire file drawer dedicated to sermon illustrations. Beginning with one for “Abortion” followed by one for “Addictions” and then continuing on to places like “Grief,” “Healing,” “Methodism” (over which I have some grief and is in need of healing!), then...

I spent the early part of last week in a remarkable place called the Ceta Canyon Retreat Center – www.cetacanyon.org – leading a retreat for United Methodist Clergy of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference. What is the Northwest Texas Annual Conference? Great...

Yesterday’s message … • Acknowledge that in normal times I’d prefer not to do this series; • Yet in abnormal times it moves for a GOT TO to a GET TO; • Gave a brief lesson in the geo-politics of ancient Philippi; • Landed at this bottom line: Don’t confuse your civics...

Unprecedented. Historic. High stakes. Contentious. All those and more describe this season we’re in. Pandemic + Conflict + Election = Chaos. What in the world is a church to do in the middle of a land living through such division? How in the world can individuals who...