“Organized religion is dying in America. Not because of scandal, although that has hurt. No, the churches have immediate seating because the environment they foster is often irrelevant to our lives.” Ouch! That’s not good. That criticism came from an online column of a lay person…not a pastor...
I love serendipity! I don’t always stumble upon a good find that really speaks to me, but when I do, I enjoy it. Such was the case for me recently when I was searching for a little harmless distraction. I was shocked to find out about...
Who do you pray for in your devotion time? We are going to skip past the typical pastor directive to have a prayer time, but if you are not doing this, start today. That time is immensely important to our own spiritual development, and God...
It is time for the obligatory conversation about what tomorrow truly is about. Director, please cue Linus from "Peanuts" to share the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It's time to count our blessings...
“WE CHECK IDS.” I have been going to that grocery store since we moved to Valdosta, and this was the first time I ever noticed. Everyone of the checkout clerks wears a badge with that short sentence on it. I am sure it is required...
I know all of you were just as excited as I was for last Sunday. It was a big day. I recorded it so I could watch it later. No, I am not talking about church, even though Matt Mullis did a great job leading...
Hey Shoreline! I have been celebrating the Boston Red Sox World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers right alongside my New England…dare I say, yankee…family members. The Red Sox had the most wins during the regular season, which, oddly enough, has not resulted in World Series...
People have favorite Bible stories that connect to them in a special way or remind them of a time God communicated with them. As followers of Jesus, many of us find those stories in the life of Jesus. Living and reliving those stories helps us...
I hope you are on this purpose-finding journey with us. We are learning that we have one purpose in this life, and the purpose is realized in God’s plan for our lives. This past Sunday, we saw how God has been developing our individual SHAPE...
Now seems like the right time to remind you when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Also, when God closes a door, he opens a window. Double also, there’s no time like the present, to make a new future. Well…maybe now isn’t the best...
What kind of church would Jesus attend? If Jesus showed up this Sunday to attend a church in America, where would He go? We are not talking about Jesus from 2,000 years ago...
I cannot imagine living apart from someone I love every day, not knowing whether they were alive or dead. I know what it is to be separated by distance and unsure of what a loved one is doing, but to have no awareness is another...
We are off and running with our new sermon series, “What Is Your Purpose?” based on Rick Warren’s book What on Earth Am I Here For? This series is helping us understand why we were created and what is our purpose for God’s Kingdom. The...
I am not the biggest fan of car-buying. Anyone who knows me knows I do not like haggling or bartering. For me, that skill has to be grounded in dishonesty. You essentially say to someone, “I know you say this is worth this much, but...
Would you rather be smart or dumb? Ideally, we do not have to think too long to find the answer to that question. Your answer may be easy to come by, but doing the things to support your decision is a little more difficult. King Solomon...