More than once, people have complimented me on my ability to remember names. I have politely accepted the compliments and move on with my life. But, the honest truth is the praise is entirely undeserved. While there are pastors who have been endowed by the Creator with a preternatural ability to remember and recall names, I am not one of them. I make liberal use of various informal and familial...
What are you looking for?
My wife, Robyn, and I recently returned from an epic adventure. We boarded a ship in Hawaii and sailed through most of the north Pacific up to Vancouver. After one night in Vancouver, we boarded another ship and sailed the inland passage in Alaska. Upon disembarking our second ship, we boarded a train which then carried us 10 hours north through the mainland to Denali National Park. And finally...
To the Angel of the Church in __________ (It’s Looking Really REVELATION Out)
Revelation is a popular book of the Bible these days. The content is compelling, if not more than a little confusing. It provides us with a powerful description of the/an Apocalypse. Many believe Revelation serves as a detailed outline for the literal end of the world following the rapture, a horrific time of tribulation, and the ultimate return and reign of Christ on the earth. Others believe...
Azazel: The Goat Who Lived
The book of Leviticus is difficult to digest for most of us. Many of my own attempts to read through the Bible from beginning to end, came to a sudden stop in the rules, regulations, and litigious language of Leviticus. Consequently, there are some very interesting pieces of information that often get overlooked. One such detail is the “Azazel,” or “scapegoat.” There were...
Jesus Changes Everything
I love the Bible. One of my greatest joys in life is studying, preaching, and talking with those who are interesting about the Word of God. I love all of the Bible, Old and New Testament alike. I confess, I struggle with much of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, but I understand their importance to understanding and participating in the work of God. As I’ve noted many times recently, “All...
Picking a Side
The COVID pandemic was a difficult season, for a variety of reasons. The world became a medical research project that played out in real-time in our communities. We developed and employed new practices as we attempted to safely navigate a relatively unknown contagion. Within the walls of First Baptist Church, we installed hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the church, we made available and...
Descriptive vs. Prescriptive
The Bible is the ultimate authority for followers of Jesus. Many times it is likened to a manual or textbook for living a righteous life. These are both helpful, if not woefully inadequate, analogues for what the Bible is and how it is meant to be used. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that...
Carry the Cross… Mine, Yours, or Theirs
There are a lot of significant stories within the overall Easter narrative. Several of these stories have well-known titles and have individual days devoted to their memory. These include The Triumphal Entry which is celebrated on Palm Sunday, The Last Supper which is celebrated on Maundy Thursday, The Crucifixion which is remembered on Good Friday, and The Resurrection which is celebrated on...
More Than Sufficient to Share
One of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of being a pastor is trying to discern how much food to order for a church event. This was especially true when planning for youth and young adults. Young people fall onto an extremely broad spectrum when it comes to eating habits. There are those who nibble on the corner of a piece of pizza, eat two Cheetos, and drink a quarter bottle of water and are...
An Angel Among Us
I’ve had the privilege of developing relationships with some amazing people throughout my 25 years in ministry. For most of that time, my family and I have lived far from home. In each of the churches we have served, God has graciously provided us with people who have welcomed us into their homes and adopted us into their families. These saints lived out the words of Hebrews 13:1-2, which reads...
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