I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;that I know very well.
-Psalm 139:14
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Here's something I came across today. It's appropriate to end off "Pastor Appreciation Month." God has placed pastors in my life that have prepared me for ministry and life, and I am thankful for them. What about you? What have you learned most from your pastors?
If a pastor preaches over 12 minutes, he's a windbag; if her sermon is short, she came unprepared.
If she gives her sermon in a quiet voice, she's a bore; if he puts...
This Sunday our church began a discipleship emphasis. Actually, we first called it a stewardship campaign, but felt too many people would think we were asking for money because, you know, stewardship is all about money. Well, not actually.
For the next six weeks we are focusing on several aspects of life with God. This week we began with prayer. I think most people acknowledged the importance of prayer. It's just finding...
Each one of the Fletcher Five has a container to hold keepsakes. Recently, we had a chance to go through a couple of them and had a lot of fun looking at pictures, old handwriting and all kinds of other things. Over the years, the kids' collecting habits have evolved. At first they wanted to make sure to keep every piece of paper returned from school. Every. Piece. Of. Paper.
We were able to encourage them to only keep important...
I'm excited to announce our church's new website. It's been in the works for a while, but considering how hectic this year has turned out to be, it was also put on the back burner. I think it's pretty informational. Now, the quest will be to transition to a more engaging site.
In the mean time, however, this is a good start. Have a look at www.shinerfumc.org. See if I'm missing anything, or included grammatical errors. Who...
I posted this picture to the blog's Facebook page. Within two days it reached over 31,000 Facebook users. That represents this blog's best attempt at being viral. So, did everyone think it was funny, or did they just want to convince me to actually do this one Sunday?
You be the judge.
Stay blessed...j...
We all know that football is a religion here in Texas, and I'll admit that I'm a dedicated follower. Now, I'm not a religious leader or by any means a fanatic. I don't do fantasy football; I don't know every statistical category; I don't know every roster. I've wanted to paint my face and wear a Darth Vader mask to a game, but have yet to do so. I do, however, enjoy watching the games either sitting in my La-Z-Boy or in a crowded stadium. I'm...
Oh, how I would love to show this video to you and have a little talk. Since I can't do that, you'll just have to watch it on your own and let me know what you think.
Blimey Cow may not be a good resource for everyone. You have to be able to appreciate their approach to the topics they present. That said, I'm putting it on my blog. That should tell you what I think about it.
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The book of Revelation is a book about worship. That seems strange to many people. Images of beasts, plagues, whores, horsemen and the end of time make it difficult to see John's call to worship the One who is worthy. In fact, those types of images scare many people into thoughts of destruction and disaster.
With some imagination and soul searching, however, we can look and see what John wants us to know. Revelation is not about...
Everyone knows summer can be hard on church attendance. People travel. People say they travel. It can be difficult to tell how many of your church friends you may see in church on any given Summer Sunday. Instead of taking summer "off" or leaving the good stuff for when everyone comes home, I wanted to do something a little different for those folks who are able to make it to church during the hot months.
Who knows, maybe it...
Today, our family is celebrating Gloria's birthday number ## . Oddly enough, we'll be traveling to celebrate another life--a newborn nephew.
Thankfully, the Internet lets us join in the party no matter where we are. So, sit back, push play and party with us as we wish Gloria the best on her birthday.
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Stay blessed...j...
I've told you before about one of my favorite websites, but I don't think I've mentioned another. In the last week or so, there's been a "Yo mama so Methodist" trend on United Methodist Memes (aforementioned other site). Some of them have been pretty good. So, I joined the trend and combined two of our favorite things: Methodism and football.
I leave it to you to decide which order those should be arranged.
If you're...
Today Gloria and I are celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. In that time I've realized a lot about myself. For example, I see now that I have tended to be the one who took all the pictures of everyone else. That isn't a bad thing until you try to make a 3-minute montage with pictures of yourself and your bride.
So, with that in mind, join me in wishing Gloria a happy anniversary.
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Grumpy Cat just finished reading Psalm 96:
O sing to the Lord a new song.
And you might be reading some Galatians 1 this week in church. If so, this is for you.
Stay blessed...j...
One day, our lives will look like this:
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9
But, until that day, we have to put up with stuff like this:
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Thoughts?
Stay...
Aldersgate Day is May 24th. It's the day we United Methodists remember John Wesley's "heart strangely warmed" experience. I'm not sure if Wesley made such a big deal out of that day as we do now. Still, as we follow Wesley's life and theology, that evening marked a significant moment in is faith. He would later question the assurance and faith he was given that night as he continued in ministry.
Here are his words:
In the evening...
I've been thinking about music a lot lately. There's great opportunity at our church to expand our church's worship service. It's exciting. I couldn't help but think how awesome this group would make church worship.
What do you think?...
Please use your children's sermon to train children, not entertain adul...
I told my friends I was not going to eat for 30 hours.
They were all like....
Our church is hosting its first 30 Hour Famine. We're pretty excited. Long-time readers of the blog remember our other Famine days. So, you know there's an anticipated haircut in everyone's mind. It's amazing how church folk really want to help the youth reach their goal.
Have you ever participated in the 30 Hour Famine? What was...
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Did you stand? What? You saw the asterisk and you didn't stand? I'm beginning to question your commitment to Christ. Who doesn't stand in church when they see an asterisk?
Answer: A lot of people.
It's fun to watch the church wave as people realize they're supposed to stand to sing this song or hear that reading. Some wait to be the last one sitting. That's probably an ego thing.
Now, instead of making fun...
I will be disappointed if I find out Space Jam is not on Netflix because I think it's time to raise my children right. Now, of all movies in the world to think about, why would I be worried about this film right now?
I just learned that the website for Space Jam has not been changed since 1996. That's the year I graduated high school and got married. If you visit the website right now you'll remember what late 90's websites...
You know a commercial series has its grasp on you when you see an actor in another setting and can't shake the image you have of them selling you something, say insurance. J.K. Simmons put aside being the professor at the University of Farmers to make a pretty good movie.
I watched him recently in The Music Never Stopped.
How many people have you met that did not like music? There was a book of the Bible that was written about...
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Most people like O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. Until you tell them we're going to sing the whole thing!
Stay blessed...j...
You've seen the "You are here" maps in public places. You've looked at that red dot and tried to make sense of where it was locating you, wondering if you understood where you really were. It's important information to have in case of an emergency situation.
And it's good to have in life, too.
I'm thinking this next song speaks to that a bit. How insignificant we feel sometimes. How hopeless our future seems. Consequently, our life reflects such...
I say that I will scream if I hear another sermon, clergy retreat, district meeting or conference presentation that mentions church membership decline. And if they include numbers and percentages I will walk out. Now, if I did that my throat would constantly be hoarse and I would never attend another meeting because it's mentioned quite a bit.
And how two-faced am I? Church membership decline came up in my sermon this past Sunday;...
We have been chosen by God. But what does that mean? How are we chosen? And for what are we chosen?
You can use the mini sermon player below or click on the sermon title to hear each file.
Chosen to Be
Chosen for More
Chosen to Know
...
A small act of kindness goes a long way. Do you believe that? I do because it seems God is able to do much with very little. It is often said God formed Creation ex nihilo, meaning “out of nothing”—talk about not having much to work with. And what about 2John & 3John? These are two of the shortest books in the Bible, 13 and 15 verses respectively. You could read both in minutes. Quickly, these letters express Christian love, teaching...
Gloria told me I should change the title of this sermon. So, I did. You can thank her for not hearing a sermon entitled A Big But.
Instead, I went with This Changes Everything, hoping I could still get the point across. The point? Easter is the biggest "But" of all! It's called a coordinating conjunction. Look it up or have a quick listen to this Easter sermon. And don't be jealous that your church didn't talk...
Oh, how do I despise what I see?
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Let me count the ways....
Nevermind. Why don't you tell me what you think.
Stay blessed...john
+22wo...
March is full of exciting holidays. Here are a few: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day; If Pets Had Thumbs Day; Holy Experiment Day; Frozen Food Day; Extraterrestrial Abductions Day; Goof-Off Day; Something on a Stick Day; I Am in Control Day. Laugh now, but we’ll see how you feel come Chocolate Covered Raisin Day! Of course, calling these days holidays might be a stretch. Still, these made-up days help us break the monotony of each day and give us something to...
The calling to nurture and be a part of the faith development of our young people has been ringing in my own heart for quite some time now. Over the last several years I have seen how the church has fallen short with that calling. It's one of my life's goals to establish faithful youth ministries that help young people know what it means to love God and love people--there are, of course, many facets to that.
So, I was quite giddy really as our church...
Often it seems that our most important lessons come at difficult times. Maybe it's in those times that we're finally paying attention or realize maybe we didn't have things all figured out. Tough spots in life may be the only time we keep our mouths closed enough to listen for what we need to hear. Whatever the case, we tend to learn those lessons that stick with us during our most trying times, or, to use biblical language, in our wilderness,...
"I'd be bored," is what Brittani blurted out about midway through this video. "Fine," I said, "find something else to go with your lesson." She had been preparing for a children's Sunday school class and wanted something else to go along with her First Sunday of Lent lesson.
I thought her bored comment was referring to watching the video. It wasn't. No, she wondered about being in the desert for 40 days. After a while you'd...
Apparently, pastors do more than put people to sleep.
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Another saint's faith had been made sight.
That was the comforting thought and promise as the pastor visited with the family preparing their loved one's memorial service. These are holy moments. Often tearful and difficult, but holy. A pastor is invited into a family's mourning. That requires enough humility, responsibility and authority that you would suppose the pastor would have ensured there was a box of tissue available. Pity what we don't do sometimes.
No...
Last week I aggravated an old knee injury. I'd like to say it looks worse than it feels. Unfortunately, however, it was looking pretty ugly and feeling the same way.
I tell you that because I was so disappointed Sunday morning. The first part of my sermon was all about being, getting and staying UP. God calls us UP to the mountain sides of faith. But you and I know that we cannot stay UP because God also calls us to Get...
What does a preacher have to say to make you angry?
We opened our worship service with that question this week. I'm sure some preacher has rustled a few of your feathers once or twice. Was it on a Sunday morning? Was it some off-comment during a church meeting? Did the preacher tell you what s/he really thought about (insert hot-topic issue) during a Bible study?
If you can recall the last time you wanted to throw your preacher...
Tomorrow I am doing something I never thought I would do. In fact, I often said I would never do it! Our family is celebrating the life of my step-father, Darrell. He passed away this past weekend, even though he was one of those people I thought would be around forever. Darrell and I butted heads quite a bit as I grew up. Oh, I was the know-it-all and he was the tough guy. That's a perfect mix for a lot of things.
Still, I loved him and I know he loved...
Is it possible to go through life on this planet without being hurt? I don't think so. We all have pain.
Part of my role as minister is to remind people that God understands our pain and wants to comfort and console us. Christ knew what it meant to be hurt. His home town friends tried to kill him and his disciples ditched him when he needed them the most. And that's not even going theological--something about God become...
You can probably imagine the kind of looks I received when I told the church yesterday that I thought "we should stop reading the Bible." Those good church people knew that didn't sound right.
Of course, I said a lot more (Well, not a LOT more)than that to explain what I meant. In many ways, it's unfortunate that the Bible, our sacred text has become another victim of our consumeristic ways. Many of us have been taught to read the Bible because it's...
With the rush of the holiday season behind us and the New Year before us, I always appreciate receiving late Christmas cards. Sometimes, the cards get returned to sender and that accounts for the tardiness. There are address mix ups that happen, too. Most of the time, however, I am thankful because someone sends a card because they are just like me—mailing cards just didn’t happen on time this year. More than that, though, I like...
