Do everything without complaining and arguing,so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. – Philippians 2:14-15 Can I be honest for a second? I really hate this passage. Seriously. Every[...]
Joy and I decided to stay in Kentucky this year for vacation. We had planned to head south and spend time on the Florida beaches that we love. COVID spikes invited other plans and to say we were disheartened is an understatement. I know plenty of people who have kept[...]
Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:11-23 We’re coming out of Independence Day weekend. I spent the 4th with some dear friends – one of whom is a pyromaniac – and we celebrated the freedom of living in this country with a lot of fireworks. I am so thankful to live here and[...]
I preached this past weekend on Isaiah 6 – Isaiah’s call story. It’s one of those passages that begs for an over-active imagination, like mine, to be let loose. The scriptures say, Isaiah was in the throne room of the Lord and he witnessed or experienced the holiness of God.[...]
“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold[...]
Every easter, I find myself reminiscing about the celebrations of my childhood. Mom always had us dressed up in a new Easter outfit. Dad always took us to a really special Easter luncheon. The church was always full – my pastor seemed to bounce all morning long, and the music[...]
“To be loved is to be changed” The love of God is the need of every human being on the planet. Without it, we aimlessly wander trying to fill a hole that seems un-fillable. We try to fit a bunch of other things in it thinking we will be fulfilled,[...]
“To be loved is to be changed” I saw a cartoon recently that showed a bunch of animals walking and observing all the humans closed off in their home habitats. The caption under the picture said, “so this is what it feels like to be in a zoo.” Like many[...]
If I’m honest, the last week or so has been pretty tough. To quote an old friend, “the struggle has been real.” I know I’m not alone either. We’re living in a season that is just really hard right now. We call it the “new normal” but it’s anything but[...]
Getting nervous and anxious is a really interesting phenomenon – if you think about it. I recently preached about fear and I was researching how our bodies were created to respond to threats. Our pulses quicken, our blood pressure rises, our muscles tighten, we are being made ready to go[...]
The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firmand cannot be shaken. Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, O Lord.[...]
“Oh, thank GOD —he’s so good! His love never runs out. All of you set free by GOD, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression, then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas. Some of you wandered for[...]
“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—[...]
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has[...]
One of my favorite childhood memories involves my family preparations for Easter. Now, we always dressed up for church – it was just something we did, and I still remember that first Sunday at a new church when we could wear jeans. I felt like I was breaking the law[...]