Everyone has a Gethsemane. This is the time when everything in your natural mind wants to run away. You realize that the next few hours, months or years are out of your control and that the decisions you make today could change your life forever. Every David has a Goliath. Every Esther has a Haman….
A Famine is Coming. How Will You Respond?
I hate to sound bleak but this much is true. In our lifetime, we will experience a famine. It seems more and more possible that there will be a societal collapse, a financial reset, or a global crisis. At the very least, you will experience one personally. (So have a nice day! insert emoji here!) If…
4 Undeniable Truths about Snap-Decisions
Life really does come at you fast. Sometimes our greatest decisions are made in a split second. Sure, there are decisions that take time. There are decisions that we mull over. But often on ordinary days I have decisions that show up at my doorstep without a moments notice. These are the decisions that test our character and…
A (Realistic) Prayer for Pastors
God, help him to hear your voice louder than his most outspoken critic. Help him to laugh inside when people make veiled threats and impertinent demands upon him. Encourage him to be so bold in his message that people will want to cover their ears and chant “lalalala” to drown out the ugly truth he…
Choosing Wonder
Uncertainty is certain but one thing remains: our desire for wonder. Wonder is imbedded in the core of our soul. Very few seek a boring life, with so-so relationships, a mediocre romance and a take-it-or-leave-it career. We yearn for wonder. But how do we get wonder? Is wonder something we can capture like a trout at the end of…
He is There
When the mighty winds of change shake the foundation of life, He is there. When the storms of life flood our souls, He is there. When the grey slush days seem to never end, He is there. When death steals a friend, loved one, or brother, He is there. When it’s so dark we can’t see any way out, He is there. When we are…
The Envelope Please
It was a moment of utter shock. It was unexpected The Oscar for Best Picture of 2017 envelope was opened. Millions of viewers experienced the shock, embarrassment and confusion of the presenter as the wrong winner was called out. The social media world exploded. It sent the accountants, actors, winners and losers scurrying. In short, it was a circus…
The Death of a Church
Dearly Beloved, We are here to say good-bye to an old friend: a friend we have loved for years. We did not come to praise her; we came to bury her. What can you say about a church that weathered the riches of the 90s, the emergent movement of the 2000s, and the schisms of the 10s? In…
Containers, We Are
This reading could be utilized as a solo reading, duet, or group reading. Reader 1: “For we do not preach ourselves.” Reader 2: We don’t strut our talents. Reader 1: We don’t flaunt our riches. Reader 2: We don’t tout our strategy. Reader 1: We don’t sell our style. Reader 2: We don’t rely on…
It’s not about Legalism
We are a savage tribe. Often hiding behind our rules to make us as a sort of spiritual hall pass. We live in a world where poverty is the dominant issue and we, the rich Christian nations, are more concerned about sports, tax breaks, and oil prices. In a larger sense our prayers are feeble…