It's been six months in exile. And Sunday, the exiles return home. Week Two of Comeback features a return to live and indoor worship at Good Shepherd. We know many of you aren't yet ready or comfortable coming back "live" yet and that's we're expanding to TWO...
The Danger Of Familiarity
One of the dangers of being a long-time Christian is that you begin to think you know what a particular section of the bible is about -- since you've read it so many times -- before you sit down to encounter it once again. Case in point: Romans 6-8. For many years,...
Consistency & Crisis
During my time in pastoral ministry, I have become relatively comfortable and effective at dealing with people who are in crisis mode.Not perfect by any stretch. But by and large I have been able to be a “non-anxious” presence in people’s lives when they are faced...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Ways “WORD Before The WORLD” Has Helped ME
As a lot of you know, for the last year or so I have been providing Daily Reading Prompts on Monday-Friday of each week. It started as an experiment to help my men's LifeGroup study Luke together and has expanded enormously since them. The Prompts cover a section of...
Comeback, Week 1 — The “The Rules Of Re-Entry” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Should have been delivered 20 years ago. And then again 10 years ago. And then again five years ago. It touches on sometimes so deeply Christian and yet almost un-American that I found it too easy to put on the backburner; Was likely to...
“Comeback,” Week 1 — “The Rules Of Re-Entry”
Down for the count. Back against the wall. Throw in the towel. All over but the crying. Left for dead. However you phrase it, that’s how many of us have been feeling over the last few months. We’ve been knocked down and sent out and now more than ever we need to know...
#TBT — Budding Artist, Aspiring Footballer, or Religious Clairvoyant?
I recently found this drawing of mine in some old photo albums. I believe I was about six years old, making this in 1967 or 1968. Notice I have my name on the FRONT side of the jersey (those of you who know me are like, "yep, he's a THREE alright!"). Notice...
WHY We Do WHAT We Do
Some time ago, I received an email from a friend at Good Shepherd. My friend is in recovery from alcoholism, so that is a frequent subject of our conversations together, and he knows how much joy I get from his journey to sobriety. Here's part of his email: I wanted...
Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reasons I ALWAYS Root For SMU
This past weekend was a good weekend for SMU sports. First, their football team beat the University of North Texas (um, formerly called North Texas State University) 65-35. Second, their graduate Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open golf tournament. My delight with...
“Help! I Need Somebody!” Week 4 — The “Help! Somebody Needs You!” Sermon Rewind
Yesterday's message ... Hinged on a subtle yet unmistakable pattern in Ruth 4; Pointed out Ruth's mic drop ending of 4:17 ... the Moabitess is in the lineage of King David. Really, Ruth begins in anarchy and ends in monarchy; Suggested that "town gates" in ancient...