You Deserve a Break Today
Okay, I know your deacons will never go for it. I know the little old lady with the ingrown toenail expects you to be at her outpatient surgery. I know all the excuses about how the devil never takes a day off. Forget all that and hang with me for a moment. First of all,
Time Magazine’s Top 100
THE LIVES AND IDEAS OF THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE On May 8, 2006, TIME Magazine released their special issue highlighting the 100 most influential people in the world. They broke the list down by leaders and revolutionaries, scientists and thinkers, heroes and pioneers, builders and titans, artists and entertainers. In scanning the magazine, I
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Time is a tool to be used. Tragically, time is only sacred to us when it slips away. Every moment, every choice and every event plants something within us, be it good or evil. Thoreau said, “Time is
Laughing on the Outside, Dying on the Inside
My two favorite comedians were the famous Abbott and Costello. Their work is still around today on video and audio cassette. One Christmas, a staff member gave me a script from the 1950s TV show. I love to watch Bud and Lou. Today I am a member of the Abbott and Costello Fan Club. I
When God Takes Over
While many talk of revival in the church, few in fact want it. We say we want a visitation of God, but when He shows up, we reject it. God didn’t show up and behave Himself. He didn’t act like we told Him to. That’s what we hate about revival—God takes over. Those who have
Baseball and the Baptist
I grew up with baseball. I was thinking, maybe we could reach more baseball fans if we used their terminology. Sometimes we are guilty of using Christian “shop talk” that the unbeliever does not understand. Without further explanation, the following is an attempt to “relate” to all those baseball fans out there. Batting Practice Also
Strange But True
I have a friend who has a great statement regarding the church and ministry. When we are talking about something that is just beyond belief, he says, A I can ‘ t make up the stuff I know. ” I’ve had some weird encounters in my time. Every preacher has at least one A truth
Intensely Spiritual, But Completely Natural
Some people think preachers aren’t real people. Some preachers don’t come across as real people. The pastor of my home church always had a suit on. No, really. I mean always. I saw him working on his house one day, and he had a coat and tie on. I prayed (and I wasn’t even saved
Why Would Anyone Want to Be Normal?
What is normal? “The norm” these days seems to have taken some strange turns. To quote an old car commercial, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” Everything seems to be changing. What used to be wrong is now right. Things that once made us blush are “normal” conversation. Matters that were never discussed from pulpits,
Ministry Outside the Box
One of the joys of pastoring at Sherwood is that God is allowing us to minister outside a normal church paradigm. We’re way outside of the box and we enjoy asking God to show us how we can “boldly go where no man has gone before.” Sherwood Sports Park In recent years, we’ve purchased nearly
Who Will Be the First to Cancel Easter?
After major efforts by millions of evangelicals to make our point about the secularization of Christmas, we were faced with churches canceling their services on Christmas Day. Talk about shooting ourselves in the foot and becoming the laughing stock of the secular humanists. We have, once again, provided the ammunition for the guns aimed at
Lessons Learned in the Ministry
From time to time, as I talk to young preachers, they’ll ask me, “What kind of advice would you give me?” Usually they want a nutshell of wisdom (be careful about anything that can be put in a nutshell; it’s usually for nuts). In fact, I have made a few discoveries along the way. Some are original;