On Wednesday, as I wound up my three day visit with my mom in Austin (Betty Davis, age 102), I stopped by this church down the hill from where she lives. It's actually the place where I first sensed that maybe I was supposed to be a pastor and even more specifically,...
This might be my favorite graphic ever. Favorite author articulating a treasured belief. Inspiration to write, create, build, or achieve never arrives in your life. It instead emerges from the hard work you're doing when it comes to writing, creating, building, or...
Most of you who read this blog know that I loved my time at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. I was a student there from 1987-1990 and feel like it did a superb job of preparing me to be a preacher, a pastor, and a Christian. Given the choice, I would do it all...
Yesterday's message .... Completely hinged on a twist in Jesus' speaking in Matthew 5:21-26; when you notice what he does and how he does it, everything in the passage changes. Used a prop of the words YOUR ANGER and YOU ANGER placed on either side of me on easels....
Most of you know that I really like preaching. I like the study, the brainstorming, the preparing, the delivering, and even the responding. And in recent months, with the Simplify The Message; Multiply The Impact workshop I've been teaching, I have spent a lot of time...
Earlier this week, a couple from Good Shepherd was cleaning out their attic, came across an ancient bible, and decided I might have a use for it. And this time, I did. I do. See, the edition my friends gave is called the Douay-Rheims Bible, translated and published...
As a lot of you know, we've started a new "up front" prayer team for the conclusion of our Sunday worship gatherings at Good Shepherd. We want to normalize what was previously remedial. Meaning: we want our altar area to be a center of prayerful conversation...
A friend and I have been reading the book of Ephesians together. For over a year. We go down a lot of rabbit trails during our time together, but when we zero in on Ephesians, the rewards are rich indeed. Spending that much time on that short a book, however, also...
Yesterday's message ... Referenced both Marla Maples and Jimmy Carter within the first three minutes. How's that for name dropping & president referencing?! Used Jesus' words regarding gouging eyes & amputating hands to prove what most of us know but some of...
Here are words from the mouth of Jesus that we find in Mark 3: 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”...