We Methodists have an odd phase: "a heart strangely warmed." It comes from a seminal moment in John Wesley's personal journal when he recounts a spiritual experience on Aldersgate Street in London in May of 1738: About a quarter before nine, while [a teacher on the...
Yesterday's message led to this immediate response from a Good Shepherd friend: I love how once again you were talking to me (because it's about me lol) this morning and pulling be back in. As if you are reaching out for my hand and saying "get back here". I heard...
This is always been one of my favorite photos, and I brought it back home after my recent Austin trip: I'm on the right, holding the football and not looking at the camera. To my right (left on the photo) is my best friend at the time, Davie Baird. He was also the...
During How To Tell A Mountain From A Molehill, the Children's Ministry Team at Good Shepherd has created content for the K-Zone that mirrors what I have been teaching in the Worship Center. That means that for the past Sunday, our team needed children's material to...
Later this week -- for a Thursday Staff Seminary and then for a Friday Out & About Luncheon -- Good Shepherd is bringing in speaker and author Missy Buchanan. There are five reasons why I am especially excited about this project. Here they are. Missy Writes...
Yesterday's message ... Featured some biblical context work that I felt really good about, and which suggested a possible identity for the parabolic character known as "The Rich Fool"; Reminded people that Yoda would have phrased YOLO as OOYL; Included an anecdote...
On a recent Thursday morning, I attended BUT DID NOT LEAD a Good Shepherd LifeGroup. The group is actually using a new Seedbed study on the book of Hebrews, authored by Ken Schenck, who was a classmate of mine at Asbury Seminary. ...
In the study guide "Lord, Change My Attitude," Pastor James McDonald offers this definition of covetousness: "Wanting something so much that you lose your satisfaction in God." I like that. I like that because I live it. Things I want so badly it causes me to lose...
Sure, a lot of folks will tell you that the hours are long, the pushback is heavy, and the frustration is high. But how often do you hear that ministry is worth it? That it is more than worth it? I've had a few glimpses just in the last several weeks. Five, in...
Yesterday's message ... Launched the How To Tell A Mountain From A Molehill series; Featured a purple ball test involving David Morgan; Drew some inspiration from George Thompson's book God's Not Fair Thank God. Reminded people that we don't sing Amazing Karma; Landed...