Over the past two weeks of corporate worship services, my church has sung, “Be Still My Soul.” I don’t know when I first heard the song, but I’m sure it was early on in my youth. However, I do remember the first time it grabbed my attention: (don’t laugh) it was during an episode of …
Monthly Archives: March 2014
Major League Qualifications
I remember a few years ago when a major league baseball player was fined by his team for statements that he made in public. Radio talk shows discussed the matter for several days. Some callers ranted about the right to free speech while others pointed out the employer’s right to set rules for his employee’s …
Road Trip: Chicagoland, IL
It was great to recently spend time with Rob Hager, pastor of Jacob’s Well Baptist Church of Oswego, IL. Although I didn’t get to visit his church (I’m looking forward to preaching there soon), we had a great time discussing some of the ways God is using the Jacob’s Well congregation to reach the community. …
Pastoral Search? Take Your Time!
Selecting a new pastor can be difficult. For many churches, the search committee feels lost because the spiritual leader (former pastor) has left and now they have big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of “how to select a new pastor” training programs out there. If there were one piece of advice I …
Don’t Try to Parent From “The Cloud”
Do you ever take your work home with you? I do. I don’t bring work home in the traditional briefcase or backpack. It’s all “in the cloud” now anyway –just waiting for me to pick it up. Worse than what’s “in the cloud,” however, is what’s in my head. I don’t have to be sitting …
Recognizing a Single Group
I’m a part of a unique group of people: single parents. We are a diverse group. Some of us are widowed, others divorced, some have never been married. Yet, most of us feel similar pressures: To compensate for the absent parent To make sure our children feel “normal” To provide for our children To make …
3 Ways Your Church Facilities Communicate “You’re Not Welcome”
Growing up, anytime guests were coming to visit, we would “clean house” to get ready. The more important the guest, the more we cleaned up. Every church (no matter the size, median age, location, or resources) can quickly communicate a lack of concern for visitors by the way they keep their facilities. Here are three …
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Which Team Is God On?
How many times have you caught yourself praying when your favorite team is down by two and has the ball with three seconds left? Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it. When we get caught up in the excitement of the moment, we tend to forget that God has children who are fans of …
Road Trip: Carthage, TX
I recently had the privilege of spending a few hours with Dr. Allen Tilley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Carthage, TX. Carthage is the home of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and is the setting of the major motion picture, Bernie. Dr. Tilley has served Frist Baptist for over fifteen years. God …
Are We Teaching Two Gods?
Christians around the world affirm the fact that there is one God and He never changes. Seems pretty straight-forward and basic doesn’t it? He is God, He doesn’t change. However, when Christians use phrases like, “In the Old Testament, God is full of wrath, and in the New Testament, He is full of grace,” we …