What Does Revival Look Like?

If you study the history of revival, there are common denominators: a return to first love, a return to the authority of Scripture, and an elevation of prayer. While we have seen a few breezes of revival at Sherwood, I would not say we have seen revival on the scales I read about. There is […]

Our Need for Revival

I am currently preaching two new series, “The Keys to Revival in America” on Sunday mornings and “Unfaithful” from the Book of Judges on Sunday evenings. As I prepare and preach, I’ve made two observances: 1) Occupy the altar every Sunday to say to those who are casually observing in our services and to God […]

A Change Is Going to Come

In case you were unaware, this is an election year. During the last presidential election, I wrote an article that I think still applies to this election… This is a year of change. There will be a new President, perhaps a new party in the White House beginning in 2009. In the next few months, […]

There’s a Better Way

We are a society driven by consumerism and marketing. There are millions of ho-hum products out there. Many are being sold on shopping channels by people who are obviously on amphetamines. They peddle products that will eventually end up in our next yard sale. We are spenders and consumers. This is the reason Americans are […]

Don’t Be a Foolish Thinker

The word “fool” is used nearly 40 times in the book of Proverbs. Solomon used it more often than any other writer in Scripture. The word appears primarily in the wisdom literature. It was used to describe a person who, in general, lacked wisdom. Sometimes a fool was one who despised wisdom or discipline. According […]

Drive for Show, Putt for Dough

I love to play golf. I’m not that good at it, I just love the game. On the golf course, I have one rule; don’t talk to me about church. Golf is where I let down, unwind, and get my mind off my job as a pastor. I’ve never been great at the game. I’m […]

Politics and Religion

(*I wrote the following article nearly 12 years ago, yet it’s still applicable today.) Does anyone remember when Jimmy Carter announced that he was “born again” and created a stir during the 1976 Presidential Campaign? Some say that the Christian community was so desperate for a believer in office that they were the deciding factor […]

On the Lack of Personal Responsibility

We are residents of a world that refuses to take any responsibility. “The devil made me do it. My spouse made me do it. It’s my boss’s fault.” On and on it goes; where it stops, no one knows. One of the funniest movies I’ve seen in recent years is a movie called Rocketman. The […]

October Baby and a December Baby

I’ve just returned from the local movie theater, where Terri and I watched October Baby the new movie by Jon and Andrew Erwin. Jon and many of the others who worked behind the scenes on the movie have also been a part of Sherwood Pictures. Provident Films made a wise decision in being behind this […]

Do You Need a Good Plowing?

I’ve never farmed a day in my life. I have relatives who have worked a farm, but I’ve never been behind a plow. I do think I understand what a plow is for. You use a plow to break up the ground and prepare for a harvest. If the ground is not plowed, the seed […]

The Man Who Feared No Man

In the city of Edinburgh, Scotland stands the statue of a John Knox. Knox was the key leader of the Scottish Reformation and the founder of Presbyterianism in Scotland. At his graveside, Regent Morton said, “Here lies one who neither flattered nor feared any flesh.” From everything I can learn about Knox, he makes William […]

The Problem with Labels

The longer I live, the more I detest being labeled. I resent being labeled by the region of the country that I live in. Typically, those of us in the South have labels for Yankees (oops, there’s a label), and those in the North have a label for those below the Mason Dixon Line. The […]

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