I’ve often heard this phrase “money follows ministry.” It sounds good. It seems to make sense. And it’s a much better phrase to live by than the reverse: “ministry follows money.” Unfortunately, the latter is far too often the case.
But as I think about it, while I like the phrase “money follows ministry,” I think it is inherently flawed. Continue Reading →
Recently, as I drove my beautiful, identical, 6-year-old twin girls to school, they sang to me. This is not unusual, they seem to sing every morning in the car. Jake (my 7-year-old son), on the other hand, sings more in the shower. But I get serenaded nearly every morning from the backseat as I shuttle my little princesses (princessi?) off to their second home behind a desk.
But this time they sang a song I had not heard in awhile. It goes something like this: “He’s got the whole world, in his hands. He’s got the whole world, in his hands….” If you’ve ever attended children’s church or Sunday school, you know the rest. And, at a time when the world seems so hell bent, it was comforting to hear my little girls sing these words. And what’s really crazy, is they actually BELIEVE these words.
And as I found comfort from our scary world in a childhood song learned in Sunday school, I thought about all the other things I learned in Sunday school. Continue Reading →
Dear 68-year-old me,
Last week I wrote a letter to 19-year-old us. If you haven’t read it yet, you should (click here). I was reminded of how cocky and obnoxious we were. How did anybody like us at that age? I guess lots of 19-year-olds are that way. Thankfully we are much wiser and more mature now, am I right? I wanted young, obnoxious us to know how much he should appreciate his youth, and how quickly life passes us by. I’m nearing the age of 34, and you are double that, so I thought I might reach out to you, as well, in letter form. I had a lot of questions for 19-year-old us, and I have a lot of questions for 68 year-old-me, too. So, here goes: Continue Reading →
Dear 19-year-old-me,
Last night I played softball for the first time in several years. It wasn’t pretty. And a friend who’s only slightly older than me went down hard with a pulled hamstring. I was not so unfortunate, although my hamstrings are screaming at me today. Which reminds me, who decided to call them hamstrings? I always picture a bunch of pigs playing stringed instruments when I hear that word—like a piggy string ensemble.
Today I had to take several headshots for some upcoming events. When I had the chance to review them, I was not pleased. I looked old and chubby. What happened to you, 19-year-old-me? When did these wrinkles around my eyes become so pronounced? When did my gut start poking out? When did hair start growing out of my ears and nose at a breakneck speed? When did I start grunting every time I stand up?
When did YOU become ME? Continue Reading →
I actually just googled “google.” I was afraid to hit enter for fear that the Internet might implode. Thankfully, I lived to tell the tale. But it got me thinking about the meaning of life, the reason for which I’m sure is 0bvious to both of us (you and me, that is)… Continue Reading →
I’ve grown up in and around the church. I’ve heard countless sermons. I’ve been spanked in the middle of Dad’s message. I’ve heard the snap of fingers from behind the piano as Mom played that caused me to stop dead in my mischievous tracks. I sang Father Abraham, This Little Light of Mine, Jesus Loves Me, and The B-I-B-L-E. I’ve heard every Bible story a thousand times. I’ve added the phrase “in the tub” to the end of every possible hymn title (“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms…in the tub.” I’ve also heard of alternative endings, such as “on the pot,” but that one scares me. I suppose any bathroom reference will do. Wait, no, strike that last remark). But through all this there was one thing I rarely, if ever, heard—the complete meaning of the Great Commission. Continue Reading →
When my youngest brother Davey was about four, my Dad took him fishing for the first time. What transpired next would change our lives forever and, if you keep reading, it might just change yours, too. Continue Reading →
The traditional definition of marriage is being attacked, and the government and court system has now bowed to the unending pressure. That’s why it’s time for the church to take marriage OUT of the government’s hands. Why did they even have it in the first place?
Here’s an article I wrote for a recent publication. It’s written for them young whippersnappers, but you old(er) folks might also appreciate it…
Today I had to google the word swag to make sure I was using it properly. Thankfully I was, but from the stuff I read, it didn’t seem like it was possible to misuse it. Like this article, for instance—it’s pretty swag, right? (Okay, maybe you can misuse it.) Continue Reading →
So, I guess this is my very first guest post (well, I don’t guess, I know, I guess, wait, ugh). The guest writer (a.k.a, my wife) has no clue she’s doing this, but I took something she wrote, edited it just slightly, and I’m posting it. If you never hear from me again, you will know that she was not happy with me, but here goes, enjoy… Continue Reading →