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Is big Kingdom impact measured by butts, budgets, and buildings only? What is THE critical event in the life of a church? Carl George gets after this question by considering the special sauce, lettuce, and cheese of a Big Mac. What is the critical event of a McDonald’s franchise? There is the franchise owner, the supply chain of food, the equipment, the training of people to run the equipment, and on and on the logistics list can go.…
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How big is our Kingdom impact supposed to be? How big does God want our impact to be? Ever ask THAT? His calling is for you and I to be salt of the EARTH and light of the WORLD. That language seems sizable, don’t you think? What’s really wild is that we are called to just let our light shine. We don’t create the light. We don’t crank up our own lights. We let our light, Jesus, shine—and Jesus is…
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Keeping your head up is important. Titans Coach, Herman Boone, told his losing high school football team at halftime of the Virginia state championship, “Win or lose… we’re gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high.” In recent days, Sherry has been getting lost in a Nicholas Sparks book. I’m hoping there’s a corresponding movie that can help a bro out. As Sherry reads, her head is typically down. She is oblivious to the rest of…
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My intention is not to place people in rigid boxes or stereotypes. I believe we all have something to bring to the dinner table that other hungry folks need. Having said that… A while back, I did a wedding for some friends at church. When Sherry and I walked into the backyard venue, it was overtly obvious how lonely and white we were. To the credit of our gracious hosts, we were sucked into warm family conversations, laughter, dancing,…
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My tendency is to race through life. I’m a doer. If I’m not doing, I’m either feeling a lack accomplishment or fearing all my doing will go south. This informs my prayers. Too often my God communication consists of, “Lord, help me do all my stuff,” or “Jesus, don’t let me fail.” This is not the stuff of rich, quality time with my Creator. With this realization, I sit this morning in the mountains called Blue Ridge. This…
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Re-entry was the non-topic yesterday as we traveled home from Florida and our 2016 summer study break. The moment the subject of re-entry came up, someone else shut it down. Nobody wanted to talk about it, but we knew we had to. For the re-entry process of spacecrafts, millions of dollars are spent. Re-entry is about friction and drag. If not navigated correctly, you’ll crash and burn. Rob Irvine talks about re-entry a lot when a team is coming home…
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Last night I performed a beach, wedding vow renewal ceremony for good friends. The groom of twenty-five years worked hard on making this all a surprise. He lied like an old dog at a breeding kennel. He sneaked and snuck to buy a cake, a new wedding band, and secure all the necessary components. He corralled the likes of a pastor, a celebratory restaurant, photographer, and his original and hand-written vows. The once-again bride had no clue of the effort…
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Oswald Chambers wrote, “The preacher is there as the representative of God — “… as though God were pleading through us…” (II Corinthians 5:20_. He is there to present the Gospel of God. If it is only because of preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get close to Jesus Christ.” On Sunday morning, I caved. The kids wanted to stay in a stream a live church service. I wanted to go to a “real” church. I…
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I settled into my pre-sunrise beach post. My toes were exploring the white sand. Nothing but ocean, sky, and coastline stood before God and me. With eternal gratitude, I took a deep sip from my coffee mug. Coffee mug is such a deceptive term. There was absolutely no coffee in my mug. I’m drinking fake coffee. The label says “a coffee beverage.” More deception. There’s nothing coffee about this coffee beverage. But real coffee doesn’t seem to like me these…
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Growing up, I listened to WVUD out of Dayton, Ohio. It was an album rock radio station. Without commercial interruption, WVUD played whole albums. Listening to an album rock station is where I learned to appreciate the song “Gnat Attack” by Kansas. It was a part of “Magnum Opus” on Kansas’ Leftoverture” classic. Many would recognize “Carry On My Wayward Son” or “What’s On My Mind.” But, would you recognize “Release The Beavers?” This song was another great movement in…
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