So, we all have this one life, right? We might as well enjoy it, or at least try with these 25 ways to make sure you enjoy life.


And who says you can't learn anything by reading this blog?  Not me.  In fact, watch this video to learn how to worship.  I can't promise there won't be a pop quiz.  Pay attention.


And if you need a cute fix for the day would this bear cub's late reaction help? 

Do you ever wonder if people listen to you? Some of us talk a lot, a whole lot! There are those of us who have important things to say and some who keep the rest of us entertained by what they say. Many of our words challenge, encourage and support people (while others do the opposite). With so much to say, the question is bound to come up. Of course, that’s a question many preachers often ask themselves.

“No offense; anybody can listen to your sermons.”

That was a comment a friend gave to me in a recent conversation. That was probably the best compliment I’ve received in a couple of years. Sure, I hear the “good job” courtesies and “I liked that” comments all the time; and you know how I feel about those. My friend’s worry was that I might take that as a back-handed compliment. You have to remember, though, I’m a big boy.

It has been this person’s experience that some preachers are real good at proving how sophisticated and intelligent they could be. My thought is if I want you to know how smart I am I’ll let you (you know, like it’d be your privilege) read my writings. Sermons, however, are not about me preaching as much as they are about how I can get the congregation (the entire congregation) to listen. That’s my focus.

That doesn’t always happen at once; not everyone hears everything at the same time. That’d be too easy! Just know when you are in church on a Sunday morning, or listening online my goal is to get you to listen (not hearing) to what is being said.

So, I said all that so I can ask you this: What helps you listen to a sermon?

Stay blessed…john

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-21
Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
2On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
4‘To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.

22The Lord created me at the beginning* of his work,*
the first of his acts of long ago.
23Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth—
26when he had not yet made earth and fields,*
or the world’s first bits of soil.
27When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master worker;*
and I was daily his* delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.

Every once in a while some professor will leave a few books out on a table at school. A small note is added to the stack: FREE

Last Monday I took my last--my only--Final Exam of the semester. As I blissfully danced by the room where the often wonderful piles of free books are, you guessed it, there were a few selections. You don't need to know how many, but imagine enough to fill my backpack (don't judge me).

One of the selections was With One Voice: A Lutheran Resource for Worship. It reminds me of The Faith We Sing. For funsies I look through it to read through the hymns (don't judge me). I've become more familiar with the UM Hymnal by doing that. Also, I had never used The Faith We Sing before we came to Irving; so, I'm always looking through that as well (Please, stop judging me).

Before my hardcore Methodists brothers and sisters get on me for considering bringing Lutheran music into a Methodist worship service, let me just say get over it assure you there are quite a few selections you would recognize from both the UM Hymnal and The Faith We Sing.

One selection I came across is entitled For All The Faithful Women. Had I known of it before this past Sunday I would have suggested it be used for our worship service. So, while it may be late for the Mother's Day celebration, it's perfect for thanking God for the faithful women in our lives. That's something worth doing more than one Sunday a year.

For all the faithful women who served in days of old,
to you shall thanks be given; to all, their story told.
They served with strength and gladness in tasks your wisdom gave.
To you their lives bore witness, proclaimed your pow'r to save.

We praise your name for Miriam who sang triumphantly
while Pharaoh's vaunted army lay drowned beneath the sea.
As Israel marched to freedom, her chains of bondage gone,
so may we reach the kingdom your mighty arm has won.

To Hannah, praying childless before the throne of grace,
you gave a son whose service would be before your face.
Grant us her perseverance; Lord, teach us how to pray,
to trust in your deliv'rance when darkness hides our way.

We sing of Mary, mother, fair maiden, full of grace.
She bore the Christ, our brother, who came to save our race.
May we, with her, surrender ourselves to your command
and lay upon your altar our gifts of heart and hand.

We praise the other Mary who came at Easter dawn
and near the tomb did tarry, but found her Lord was gone.
As joyfully she saw him in resurrection light,
may we by faith behold him, the day who ends all night.

So, who would you add a verse for (biblical or not)? What actions would you want to include in that verse?

Stay blessed...john

So, for years we have wondered where all the church members have gone. Well, maybe this is an answer. Funny.

Typically, I have a peppermint or Jolly Rancher in the pulpit (that I carry out when I leave of course) or a small piece of gum in the back of our sanctuary. I don't keep anything in my pockets; if it's gum or candy I WILL forget and leave it there and end up staining my shirt with the inevitable gooey mess.  What's your method of choice?  A waiting wife?  Dollar Store bottle of Scope?  Run away from the crowds?

I'll have to share with you the story about the youth who was embarrassed to tell me about something I had in my nose.....or not.  Stay blessed...john

Remember the volcano that caused so much trouble a while back?  Doesn't it seem like a lifetime since that happened? We've moved on to the next big story and continued our fighting and ranting against each other.

That said, I want you to take your mouse--be it wireless, or a cheap knock-off, property of your local library or the little pad on your laptop---and click on the following link: The Iceland Volcano is God's Judgment.

You might not be glad you did, but I'll be glad for you.  Stay blessed...john

I recently heard a sermon over John 5.  This is the story of the man who had been "ill" for 38 years; Jesus came to him one day and asked him a powerful question.  The sermon offered a wonderful chance to be imaginative.

Since the man, presumably, had been in that area for all that time, he might have been there when Jesus was brought to the Temple when he was 8 days old.  He might also have been around when Jesus strutted his preteen teaching Savior skills in the Temple while his parents went crazy looking for him.  Regardless, those days, and the day in John 5, the man does not know who Jesus is.

How has knowing Christ changed you?  Can you imagine not knowing him?

Jesus asks the man, "Do you want to be made whole?"  For many of us, our translations give us the question "Do you want to be healed?"  Did he want to be healed?  Well, duh!  Notice, however, the man never answered the question.  But the questions is important.  Jesus was offering a wholeness.  The man could have been healed, but still not have wholeness. 

Just the same, Christ asks us, "Do you want to be made whole?"  He's not asking if you want a new job, more square feet or healing. Do you want the wholeness, the peace Christ offers?

May our churches be places where God's people can find wholeness.  Stay blessed...john