I've been thinking about writing this for a while. It even crept into my Christmas Eve sermon. I had thought I would leave it alone and let Christmas go by, but I happened to read this article: The Thud After Christmas. So, blame that author for what you are reading now.
You've read the yard signs, bumper stickers and shoe-painted business windows. You know, then, that Jesus is the reason for the season. That's like the...
A lot of the books I have were gifts because I was "just starting" as a minister. A few weeks ago I had thought about how that doesn't happen often anymore. Most people know I made it through school and that I've been at this for a little while now. Well, last week I received these as a gift from a retired pastor!
Now, I've made a couple of pilgrimages to Cokesbury (which you know is closing, right?) in the last couple of weeks. So,...
What you may not know is that this is something most pastors do right before we leave the office for the worship service.
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Face it. Thanksgiving is the middle child of holidays.
People make a great fuss about Halloween. Of course they do; it's the first-born. First-borns make us "parents for the first time." It's likely you've wrapped that statement in a prayer for your first-born. You were teary-eyed when you said it, too. Your other children all but wonder why you didn't affirm that obvious piece of information about them. After all,...
Would it comfort you to know that I wrote these short words days before the results of last night's election? I hope it does because I did so on purpose. For a variety of reasons, I tend not to share my political leanings. One of the advantages I feel I have is that I can offer a perspective that you can take as being thoughtful and, as best I'm able to, free from the usual tone of "my side vs your side" politics. Besides, I'm not convinced most people want...
If my kids were regular readers of this blog, I can guarantee you this would be their favorite post. Truth be told, I think it's almost one of mine.
I've thought before about how I want "to go." Call it what you want: kick the bucket; taking a dirt nap; going to the big whatever in the sky. I bet you've given it some thought, too.
Of all the ways I have ever imagined I might bite the big one, this is one scenario that I'm sure wouldn't...
Something strange happened this past Sunday. Our service lasted an hour and twenty minutes. As of yet, I don't know that the bishop has been contacted. I'm just saying; this kind of stuff doesn't happen everyday.
Last Sunday was Communion Sunday, and we began a sermon series on the book of Job. I'm never going to short change Communion. Usually, that means I'll prepare a shorter sermon. But since this was the first sermon...
I wanted to quickly tell you about our upcoming sermon series. It is based on the book of Job, and is creatively entitled "Lessons from Job."
It is a 4-week series. We begin Sunday, October 7, 2012. If you are in the Shiner area, please stop by and join us for worship. If not, then boo on you! Kidding. If not, then be sure to check back here to listen to the series.
Stay blessed...j...
Oh, those disciples. They were often confused, hard-headed and scared. If Jesus was the living water, they were the water in the tires after a rain that the weather man says we should dump. Perhaps that is a little harsh. Jesus was convinced they were the right people he needed. They eventually handled the gospel-to-the-world thing pretty well. Still, some of the things they did and said should really make us glad we're...
First saw this from Gavin Richardson via Facebook
I don't blame Apple, really. Everyone knows you "got to give the people want they want." And people want to feel like they have the best. People want to be in the know. People want the good stuff in life.
And, you know, I could write a long post about being content blah, blah and blah. But I don't have to. There are two quick items I can bring your attention to that will do the speaking...
There's a nice one-screen movie theater not too far from our house. We go there occasionally, depending upon what's playing. Something tells me, though, that I shouldn't expect this next movie to be showing there anytime. If it were, I think I would plan a church field trip.
The movie is entitled Hellbound. I haven't seen it; I've only seen the trailer. It appears to be a documentary-type look at the ongoing faith conversation about hell. Is it a...
This was an easy sermon to preach. Easy in the sense that making connections isn't difficult. We all know what it feels like to be the one to say something we later regret. We all know what it means to let your tongue slip and say something you wish you could take back. And there have been times when you wish you would have said something. Any way you lay it out, preaching on the tongue, or our big mouth, is easy like Sunday morning....
“If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.”
- E. Joseph Cossman
...
A couple of months ago one church sign got a lot of publicity. The sign read: God prefers kind atheists over hateful Christians. I thought about that a few times while I was preparing for this sermon. Our last church had a marquis. Had this sermon come around then maybe ours would have had the same message. But you can't always get what you want. So, I got to preach this sermon, but didn't get to have church-sign fun. Life...
Little Man wanted to have some time at the ball park for his birthday. So, the Fletcher Five got their gloves and bats and went to the field. It wasn't as hot as it has been lately, but it was hot. I wasn't the only one sweating! We played for quite some time. We chased balls, got each other out and ran the bases several times. There was minimal complaining and no family cheating, mostly.
After a couple of runs around...
I began this blog with hopes that it would help my church family
better understand what goes through my mind Monday through Saturday. Some posts have fared better than others. Well, where I have fallen short in my efforts,
others have pulled through for me. Specifically,
I’m referring to a website that I recently came across.
And I know you’ll love the title, too: EV'RY DAY I'M PASTORIN'...
If you’ve ever wondered what...
Quick question: What do you know God has done IN you?
Think about that for a moment. Now, read from this passage: Ephesians 4:25-5:2, and then take some time to listen to the following sermon. I would like us to remember what God has done in us, and what God is still doing in us because we need to recall the new life God is giving each day. When we do we are better prepared to pay attention to the newness around us as well.
Often,...
First, I have to apologize for the sound quality of this sermon. Hopefully, though, I won't have to apologize for the sermon quality of this sermon. I think I might have had the lapel mic off during the sermon. Man, I miss my sound guy! But we're getting things figured out.
The title of this sermon is Will Work for Non-Perishable Food and is based upon John 6:24-35. Oh, how we are more than willing to work for the things we think we want. The saying...
We've made some changes to our church newsletter. The format is different and the name is different. It was called the Circuit Rider. Now, it's the Circuit Writer. Lame, Methodist humor, I know, but I like it!
Have a look and let us know what you think.
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Open publication - Free publishing - More church
Stay blessed...j...
If you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures—
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4-5
Last month a man cleaned out his deceased grandfather’s house. He found much of what you might expect from an abandoned home. Let’s cut to the chase and just call it all junk. Well, not all of it! In fact, some have labeled...
You hear the word Pharisee---what do you think of?
Chances are you know those guys as the people Jesus threw down with time and time again. You’re probably glad you’re not one of them. I can’t say that I blame you. They come across as being so sure of themselves and very my-way-or-the-high-wayish. And, let’s face the facts; it’s hard to market any good pharisaical material. No one wants to wear a t-shirt that reads: My brood strains gnats and swallows...
"Good morning. Welcome. It's good to see you this morning." That's about as far as many of us preachers go with our welcome at Sunday morning worship. Maybe some innovated one will say something like, "Oh, come on. You'll have to do better than that. I said, 'Good Morning!'"
Jon Acuff recently shared a welcome a friend of his found at a church he attended. I'm thinking about making it ours! It reads:
We extend...
I suspect that our recorded sermons will return next week. The recording equipment should be in the mail and ready to go for this Sunday. That'll be good because I think since I haven't seen how long the sermons have been I've given myself permission to go a tad bit longer than usual. Or maybe it's just me.
Yesterday's sermon was about rest. God gave us rest and we all need it. We live in a busy world, constantly going, going,...
It's been three weeks since our family's move to Shiner. The most difficult part of our move has been that we still don't have cable. Well, okay, there are the emotional aspects of moving that are always difficult. But, overall, our family is home and we are getting adjusted to a new community and meeting a lot of wonderful people.
When you see these crosses, you're at Shiner FUMC.
The new office is just about arranged, and I am trying to figure out...
Sometime ago, I was telling someone about the church I served here in Irving. I could tell the light went on right before this question was asked: “Isn’t that the church with the hams?” Who would have ever thought that a big ham could be used for ministry—please keep your jokes to yourself. You can’t blame that person for first remembering the succulent taste of our smoked hams over anything else about us. It’s a big part of what we do. So, I affirmed...
Sorry, but I don't remember where I first saw this. If you know, let me know so that others can know. &nb...
Sir Charles has had plenty to say about San Antonio. Now, Mayor Castro responds.
++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to view the video.++
What do you love/like/hate about San Anton...
Have you met our family's newest acolyte?
Ashlei is the Tim Duncan of acolytes. She is humble, always ready to go and a superstar! Of course, she helped train Nathan. And, this picture is of Ashlei and Nathan on his first day as an acolyte. There's something about wearing a "dress like you, Dad" that got to him. Gloria said that was stillest and quietest he had ever been in church.
Acolyte on, short peop...
It’s hard to think you would need inspiration to write a
200-word article for a monthly church newsletter. Believe me; sometimes you do. Often, it’s the same kind of inspiration
needed to write a sermon or a meditation on a Scripture passage. So, where does one get that inspiration? Well, God’s Spirit inspires us—that’s what spirits
do. I don’t mean to blame God for any
and everything I have ever written or said, but I know...
This young man doesn't need this blog to brag on him. But that's what we'll do. Check out this link to the Daily News (Galveston):
Texas City senior a 4-time all-state choir honoree
So, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag, brag,brag, brag, brag, brag, brag,brag, brag, brag, brag,...
A funny thing happened at work this morning. Okay, it wasn't all that funny, but I couldn't keep from smiling. let's just bask in glory of this day, this day that I submitted the final paper of my seminary career. Yes, friends, we are the champions!
...
As the disciples tried to make sense of the news of Easter morning, Mr. Up From the Grave appears to them. I've seen too many movies in my lifetime to think that I would have just stood there merely frightened and doubting like the rest of the disciples. No, before Ghost Man Jesus has enough time to say, "Boo!" I'd be long gone.
That means that I would have missed dinner, apparently. And that can never be good. Even more than that...
I am not completely finished with seminary, yet. Oh, but I can smell it. Or is that.....
Ehem.
Although, I am not completely finished with seminary, for the past nine months I have been able to read what I want to read, when I want to read and not worry about writing anything about it. To be honest, I don't feel all that great about that last part. I have wanted to share some ideas about several books I have read this year, but,...
Rose City Park is a United Methodist Church in Portland whose name you probably never knew before. If so, I would think you are in company with many, many, many other people. Well, unless you haven't heard of them lately. Many, many, many people have been introduced to the "other place to be on Sunday." I am not quite sure what that means.
The thing is, Rose Park has this marquis. God bless the pastor because he tries to...
Assuming that I would be able to not fail classes at Perkins, our family has known for four years that we would be moving this summer. Every semester I have filled out a form that asked for my expected graduation date: May 2012. Well, as you're probably aware, May 2012--May 12th, to be exact--is very close.
Friends, I suffer. Pray for me. Senioritis has ailed me for many years now. I hear, though, there is a balm...
Gifts abound at Easter time. Now, I can live with chocolate bunnies--chocolate anything really. Perhaps we wrap our smaller gifts of candy, trinkets and pocket change in a variety of decorated plastic eggs. And, of course, many of us gift ourselves with the perfect Easter outfit(s).
Those gifts are okay, but the gifts God has given us for Easter are far superior. They are 1) the peace of God 2) the Spirit of God and 3) The mission...
If I were in the habit of telling jokes in my sermons, I would soooo want to find a way to fit this one in:
Question: What does a nosy pepper do?
Answer: Gets jalapeno business!
Well, at least there are still Bible studies, meetings and blessings before meals. Just pretend you didn't hear this o...
Here is a great quote about mission work. I read it from a resource our United Methodist Women used recently. I sure wish more of us could let this sink in.
We learn that mission is not about me giving to you--it is about recognizing God's image in the other as we walk together.
Until we get over ourselves, though, I don't think we'll ever quite get that. Thanks, UMW, for helping us remember something importa...
Our Resurrection Sunday revolved around the theme that in Christ's Resurrection there is always hope. As long as Christ is risen, there is hope. We repeated that several times Easter morning, both early in the day and at our usual worship time.
What about you? What was your Easter worship experience? How do you feel your church celebrated the Risen Lord?
Here is my Easter sermon; it is entitled Where There Are Tears There is Hope....
This list is a few weeks late, but still worth thinking about.
Lent is the time that most of us know we "have to give up something." I hate that. First, no, we don't have to do anything. Second, Lent is a time when the church has traditionally taken up the practice of fasting. Of course, we can talk about and actually fast any other time of the year. But who wants to get carried away, really?
The distinction I want...
What is worship? Why do we worship? Who is worship for? When do we worship? Where do we worship?
Those are some of the questions I asked myself as I prepared this sermon for yesterday. The sermon is entitled Why Your Worship is Boring. In part it's boring, I suggest, because we focus way to much on music and stain-glass windows. Of course, there are other things, too. The psalmist said that "from you [God] comes my praise in the great congregation"...
In a few months, our family is going to celebrate an undertaking we’ve been working toward for some time. I already know what I am going to do when it happens—it’s a Friday tradition. I am going to call into Dave Ramsey’s radio show and announce to the world that, “WE’RE DEBT FREEEEEE!” It's a Friday tradition. That may not sound significant to you, but it is something wonderful because we haven’t always been faithful stewards. People would ask...
