Search
Much of this week has been spent with a good portion of our Cumberland’s staff in Dallas, Texas. We attended the 2019 Mosaix Multiethnic Church Conference. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. What a privilege to gather with other churches who represent 20% of evangelical churches that God has graced with diversity. The gathering look liked heaven on earth as we took our fill from speakers like Albert Tate, Bryan Lorrits, Ed Stetzer, Mark Deymaz, and Dr. John…
Read More
Deciding to sell and move is one massive adventure. Moving in is quite another. The day of moving in is exciting. The kids pick their rooms. The furniture placement is decided. The hope of a future packed with memories is waiting to be lived out. And then there are the boxes. There’s the unpacking. More boxes. Dings in the wall from bringing the piano through the front door. More boxes. Finding something previously packed becomes God’s grand way to build…
Read More
It’s never good when someone tells you, “Hey… you look a little tired.” Perhaps you should call the doc when several people start telling you that. Last Sunday, as we were meeting at Smyrna First Baptist, several people asked, “How ya doin’ with all the change?” “You dealing with the chaos, OK?” One or two of those comments, and you can brush things aside. With several of those kinds of remarks, you gotta check your face! I did. I wasn’t…
Read More
Choose Life My day was busy and scheduled full. I had not yet done my morning exercise routine and showered – when my cell phone lit up. It was my chiropractor. For years we had threatened to hike Kennesaw Mtn. Every Fall, we cajole each other about our elusive hike. I eventually wrote it all off, thinking my doctor didn’t want to cross some imposed patient line. I had left it alone and forgotten our idle threat. My cell phone…
Read More
When the Israelites were desert-dwelling, I’m sure they were hot (as in hot mess). I know they had to be a bit dusty and uncomfortable. I’ve been in an Arizona sand storm. It’s just not fun. For the Israelites, the food grew tiresome. Same bread. Same meat. Water from rocks wasn’t flavored or sparkling, so it seemed to lose its miraculous pizzazz after a while. Running seemingly purposelessly around deserts just sucks for any who have tried. But here’s what’s…
Read More
Celebrating Mother’s Day this past week was such a joyful reminder that nobody loves me quite like my mom. I’m sure many of you share the same sentiment. But just as important may be the idea that nobody KNOWS me quite like my mom. She certainly has insight about me that no one else has. In fact, my kids love listening to her talk about my quirks and tendencies, and about all of the stuff that I conveniently leave out…
Read More
The pressure is on for men everywhere. Mother’s Day looms. Guys, you gotta get this one right. You either caused great pain on the day of your birth, or you’re gonna cause some pain if you don’t remember the moms in your life. If you don’t have a spouse who is a mother, and/or your mom has passed, it behooves (great word) your very soul to remember and celebrate. This is important stuff. I don’t know what I was thinking.…
Read More
Tax season is over… for most. Many stayed up late on April 14th to get their precipitous package postmarked by midnight on the 15th. Many Americans go right down to the wire because they have an incredibly hard time figuring out their tax balance sheet. Some families do this at the end of each month. What’s the old saying, “We’ve got more month left over at the end of the money?” It’s a balance sheet problem. There is working, sweating,…
Read More
I’ve never really been good at small talk. Honestly, it always seems to be in the way of much more valuable conversation. But of course, you can’t just rush into a deep conversation with someone. That’s weird. So, I usually find myself in one of two extremes – either saying too much too soon, or saying nothing at all. Awkward, right? Somehow, I think our communication patterns with each other bleed into our relationship with God. Perhaps, the Lord longs…
Read More
Words are critical. Words speak. Rachel Wolchin wrote these penetrating words: “Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime.” I was a part of a generation who coined the ground-breaking phrase, “Word Up!” When something outstanding was said, and we wholeheartedly agreed, we’d swag our intonation and blurt, “Word up.” Eventually, a much cooler, hip hop crowd distanced themselves from nerdier types…
Read More