AnotherJohn.Com

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 first question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ; if you miss that one, you're just not paying attention.  Since that's such an easy question, let me ask you another one.  What "season" are we blaming Jesus for? Is Jesus the reason for the season of lights?   what about the trees?   surely, we aren't indicting baby Jesus for bringing us Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.   is Jesus the reason for the shopping season or the subsequent season of credit card bills?   does Jesus really have anything...

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, I've got other stuff I'm trying to finish reading before I hit this stack.  Are you reading anything worth sharing/mentioning? By the way, today I was thinking how no one ever gives their pastor 70" TVs anymore.

What you may not know is that this is something most pastors do right before we leave the office for the worship service. ++If you're reading by email or news reader, click here to watch the video.++

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, they made you parents for the second and fifth time.  Likewise, Halloween inaugurates the holiday season.  It's like National Blueberry Popsicle Month doesn't exist.  Spooky costumes and candy corn have this strange way of prepping us for Christmas. And Christmas can do no wrong.  Duh!  The baby of the family gets away with everything.  You don't have to have a baby sibling to know that.  Just watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off again.  Everyone thinks the babies are so cute.  By t...

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 to know who I vote for. I was called by the church to be a pastor, a preacher and reminder of the Gospel of our Lord. So, with that in mind... I'm anticipating the first time I'll hear the words. It'll probably be on Facebook! I first noticed them a few elections ago and have heard them every morning after the election since. What are those words?  Can you imagine someone saying this: "It's sad." Take a guess at who says that. I've never heard someone whose candidat...

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 apply to any of us. Dinosaurs blown away by own farts, say researchers And you thought this was going to be uplifting.  Stay blessed...john

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 in our new series and was about stuff I know really matters to a lot of people, I went with a typical sermon time.  Of course, I had fun.  I can only pray everyone else was blessed, too.  Tell the truth, you pay attention to what time you get out of church.  Are you a "I could've stay another hour" person or a "One Lord; one faith; one baptism; one hour" person? The first sermon in our series is entitled "Ashes to Ashes, We All Fall Down."  I had in mind Job sitting "among the ashes" (Job 2:8...

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...john

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 not at all like them. Mark 9:38-50 is a great ecumenical text.  I am sure there are other great texts to read when you get a bunch of people together who come from different faith backgrounds.  The disciples didn't care too much about some guy they ran across who was using Jesus' name.  This guy didn't run with the disciples.  He probably listened to praise music, or still only used the KJV.  At the very least, this man wasn't one of the disciples.  So, they had to stop him from "casting out demons" in J...

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 for me. Number 1: ...for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11b-13 Number 2: Jimmy Kimmel Live - First Look: iPhone 5 ++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to watch the video.++ What else could I add to th...

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 real place? Who goes there? Is is forever? And so on. When I figure out how I can, I will watch it. I can't recommend or praise/bash it, yet. But have a look and see if it is something you might take some time to watch. Would you watch it? Stay blessed...john

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. Someone said this was best sermon since coming to Shiner.  Another person was sure I overheard one of their conversations the day before.  And a few were sure I was talking directly to them.   The title of this sermon is Mark My Words...On Second Thought . Listen when you get a chance.  Play it as you wash dishes or clean off the clubs.  Let me know what you think. ++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++ Stay blessed...john

“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 goes on. What I wanted listeners to consider with this sermon is that the choice between being religious and spiritual is a false dichotomy.  Religion gets put down by many people.  I shared two videos this past week on our church's Facebook and weekly eNewsletter ( AnotherNote ) that shared two ideas about religion.  One was called Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus .  The other is called Why I Love Religion, and Love Jesus.  You should take a moment to listen to them. Religion gets blamed fo...

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 the field I was due for a break.  Sue me. Ashlei and Brittani joined me and we took a few moments to catch our breath.  Ashlei came a few seconds behind us because she went to get her water bottle.  Oh, that water bottle looked so good.  No one else brought any.  Sweat poured down my face, while water, sweet cold water, bubbled and chugged for her.  She loves me; I know this.  So, I asked for a drink, or two.  Brittani tried to get some as well.  Lovingly, kindly and funly (?) Ashlei said ...

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 makes your pastor tick, I think this website might help.  Find out what your pastors do when they try on vestments.  Feel their surprise when they hear the word “liturgy” in public.  Watch the development of their weekly sermon preparation. You may not enjoy this website the way I do; I think I’ve checked it every day this week.  But I think you might appreciate it a bit.  Let me know what you think.  Stay blessed...john

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, are faith is communicated by the "No's," "Thou Shall Nots" and "Stop Doing..." that we give the impression that is all our faith is about.  Those "rules," however, aren't meant to keep us in line, but to show us how to live together as God's people, under the grace and love of God.  And they also remind us of something else very important: God is always doing something new! The reason people wrote those rules was because someone else was new to the body of Christ.  When someone is new you ...

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 learned around the dinner table is true: If we're hungry, we'll eat anything. We are hungry for many things: love; comfort; security; satisfaction, etc. Our tendency, though, is to feed those hungers with things that are not God. Consequently, we are only left more hungry. It's a cycle many of us know well. We think a bottle will bring comfort, but it only leads to another bottle. We think the mouse click will brink satisfaction, but it only leads to another click. And on and on. Jesus promised us th...

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.   ++If you're reading by email or news reader, follow this link to read our newsletter.++ Open publication - Free publishing - More church Stay blessed...john

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 one of his finds as “cardboard gold.”  Stored away in the attic was a box of mint-condition baseball cards with names like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Christy Mathews.  You baseball buffs are probably drooling.  For the rest of you, just know the cards have been conservatively valued at $3 million.  Go check your attics!    Trading cards aside, it isn’t uncommon to be amazed at what we find when we are searching for God.  Life and faith with God are not rigid.  God moves in powe...

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 camels. Yo! “It could be,” one demotivational poster reads, “that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.” You won’t say it, but that’s probably what you think of the Pharisees. Nico and friends, in all likelihood, suffer from the second worst bad rap ever—the first, of course, belongs to Vanilla Ice (Sorry for the ‘90s rap reference). In John 10, Jesus is presented as the Good Shepherd. Jesus begins that chapter by dropping some sheep knowledge. It sounds like pretty simple stuff: there’s a gat...

"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 a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism....

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, going.  Many people take pride in their ability to always be busy.  But I don't think we were designed to live that way.  With everyone so busy, is it any wonder so many people feel tired all the time, feel like they can't concentrate, are grumpy and are dealing with an array of medical conditions?  We need rest. And God gives us rest.  I did mention how the church notoriously follows suit with the busyness.  I've heard of many people, lay people and clergy, who have been "burned out on church." ...

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 exactly what my schedule will be. Blog beware--I have been working on upcoming posts that I am excited to share. For the first time in a long time, I am serving a church without the pressures and work of being in school. I almost don't know how to act.  Our new church is Shiner First United Methodist Church. You can find our church online at www.shinerfumc.org . It has not been updated in a while, and you know I will take care of that soon enough. If you're on Facebook you can also connect with ou...

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 our ministry of pork, but went on to offer other memorable things about Oak Haven. Of course, I will remember the ham smokes, but also so much more about our time here. You all have been a joy to serve in ministry with. I thank God for your faithfulness that brought you from low points in the church. I thank God for your willingness to reach beyond what was comfortable and/or usual. And I thank God for the ways you have loved our family, and, perhaps, put up with me at times. Together, we have sought to be faithful to God. ...

Sorry, but I don't remember where I first saw this.  If you know, let me know so that others can know.  

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 Antonio?

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 people!

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 the Holy Spirit has given me the words, thoughts and images I have needed to be faithful and help others do the same. Perhaps there’s a decision to make, a family conflict to make sense of, a question about faith or a sense of purpose for your life now.  You may never write a sermon, but you’re going to need that inspiration, too.  God’s Spirit inspires us to be faithful.  Today, your inspiration may come from a poem or song lyric—tomorrow an image from a Bible story or even a movie.  Ever notice how Mom’s w...

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, 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, 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, brag, brag, brag, brag, b...

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 would have missed that profound experience with Christ.  I am sure the rest of the disciples would have gone out and find me, but I still would have missed something.   That is the idea behind this sermon.  Christ's Resurrection had an impact on the disciples.  I wonder how much impact it has on us.  How do we experience Christ today if we can't reach out and touch his wounds or have a little Zatarain's fish with him?  That's part of the question we consider in this week's sermon.  Hav...

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, for whatever reason(s) I have not. Some of the titles that have held my bookmarks are: Not Your Parents' Offering Plate ; View From the Pew ;  The Gifts of the Small Church ; You Only Have to Die ; Blessed Are the Uncool . To, hopefully, help me to play nice and share more, I am posting about a book before I read any further.  I have just finished the Introduction (Yes, I read those!) to The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity .  My hope is that by posting about it before I read...

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 keep corny church stuff off of it!  In fact, one of his most recent message in a marquis brought the church a lot of attention.  Look at the image above and see if you can guess why? My opinion?  I. LOVE. IT.  I love it so much I was willing to do the annoying period after every word sentence.  You see, I love it so much I'm willing to be annoying--oh, the life my poor wife must live.  If I wasn't moving soon , I would probably steal it and put it on Oak Haven's trusty marquis.  I say if I wasn't ...

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 in Gilead that is poured over every diploma passed out at graduation.  I digress. What our family never knew was where we would be moving once I completed my work at Perkins.  That has changed.  Last week I met with my new District Superintendent and a group of members from the new church we have been appointed to serve.  The first Sunday in July I will be preaching and, I think, leading Communion at Shiner FUMC in Shiner, TX .  Yes, that Shiner. The physical part of moving is a pain, som...

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 of God.  Those are all the gifts we need.  What's best about those gifts is that they are given when we need them the most.  Jesus first offered them to the fearful disciples locked in a room.  Christ comes to our rooms, too, and offers us the same. Where do you need peace?  That's where Christ shows up. ++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++  

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 one.

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 important.

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.  The sermon focuses on Mary Magdalene's weeping outside the empty tomb, and remembers another story of someone weeping at a friend's death. ++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++  

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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 to make is this: Giving up something for Lent does not equal fasting.  Get over your potato chips.  Stop complaining because you haven't had a Coke.  And, believe it or not, man cannot live on chocolate alone--so, giving it up is really not a big deal.  You want to make Lent something you remember?  Pray more and fast more. And, you can try a few suggestions from the sarcastic Lutheran.  Check out this link: House for All Sinners and Saints’ 40 Ideas for Keeping a Holy Lent Did your read anythin...

Unfair?  Yes, it is. Funny?  Of course!

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" (Psalm 22:25).  Most of us still think our praise comes from being tradition or contemporary.  No wonder our worship is boring. What about your worship?  How many dry spots do you have in worship?  What elements of worship are most meaningful to you?  And, perhaps most importantly, what does your worship say about God? ++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++

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 what credit cards we had. Jokingly, my response was, “The mall.” We both had decent jobs, but it always seemed like we had no money. When we went to one job that paid half of the others we really didn’t have any money. Through that, though, we learned to trust God. We had to. And the good news? We’ve never lacked for anything. Yes, we waited to buy what we thought we wanted and didn’t always get away like we deserved. But God has been too good to us to be foolish and selfish. We learned we are called to be financially r...