Our Practicing The Presence series is inspired by Brother Lawrence's 17th century devotional classic, Practicing The Presence Of God.  My goal is that people will learn and experience first hand how to have a union with God is that active and not static; living and...

While reading Jessica LaGrone's Set Apart, I came across this interesting factoid about prophetic garb:   Which made me wonder: how is it today that clergy let you know what they do by how they dress? For sure, in the liturgical tradition, it's involves a collar,...

In the final chapter of the book of Judges, the ancient Israelites -- bereft of leadership and devoid of faith -- come up with a sickening solution to an unexpected problem. The problem?  Not enough women of child bearing age in the tribe of Benjamin. The solution? ...

U2 released its 14th studio album, Songs Of Experience, in early December and so when my son asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said, "you can get me that new U2 CD." Despite his objections that I should simply get it on Spotify (first, I'd have to get Spotify)...

When I was a kid, the week between Christmas and New Year's typically meant the Cotton Bowl. The tennis tournament, not the football game. Huh? That's right.  Dallas was then and is now the host of a holiday-flavored, mostly-indoor tennis tournament.  Back in the day,...

  Considering that I am in the "business" of, um, public speaking, I find myself paying attention to how it is that people speak publicly. And in all that paying attention I have noticed how often we use "nonsense" words ... words that operate  in speech much...

For the first time in more than 10 years, Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year.  That required making decisions, adjusting schedules, empowering volunteers, and praying for the best. Here are some reflections from what we experienced together at Good Shepherd this...

Staff and leaders have finished hand delivering hundreds of these candy cane invites to our neighbors on both the Moss Road & Zoar Road campuses. Ever since my earliest days in ministry, I have thought, "why would anyone show up at church if you're not willing to...

William, not Charles. William Barclay is the author of the Daily Study Bible, a classic collection of New Testament commentaries. Though he writes from the perspective of mid-20th century neo-orthodoxy, his reflections on biblical passages often have singular insight....

I continue to be amazed at the level at which people share with me in counseling. It is a high privilege that people trust me with so much. It is also a deep responsibility. What does that responsibility demand of me in pastoral counseling? Confidentiality -- if...