Thursday, March 04, 2010
“We have a communication problem”
I hear this nearly every time I sit with a couple for
marriage coaching, in fact it happened today! I have to keep myself from laughing most of the time because
this issue is so universal yet most people state the problem as if they are the
first to experience it.
"Is this really the problem?" I know, this is a dirty counseling trick…answering with a question,
however I do believe it gets to the point much...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Proverbs
24:19-20
Do not fret
because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,
for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
I
think if we are honest we all “envy the wicked” some. Believing and following God is so much opposed to the value
system of the culture we live in. It is easy to find people who have no concern
for God yet...
Monday, February 08, 2010
“Snowprise” or “Snowbody saw this coming” or my personal favorite… “Snow-child left behind!” That’s the story here in Memphis as of early this
morning. We woke up to a
whiteout. The kids are of school
and it’s winter hysteria here!
This kind of scenario (at least in Memphis) is very rare and
triggers a...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I constantly hear
Christian leaders today challenge the Church to take up the call of social
justice…and I totally agree. However, I do not hear the outcry for justice for
the unborn. I live in Shelby
County, home of Memphis, TN and 9000 annual abortions. That comes out to more than 1 abortion
every hour. This is
appalling. Not only are 9000
children refused a chance at life but there are as many post-abortive women now
struggle with guilt, depression and physical...
Monday, January 04, 2010
I got to thinking about my New Year's resolutions and had the thought that Satan probably also makes a list. This is specifically for my world at Highpoint Church - but a great reminder to us all!
Satan's
top 10 New Year's resolutions for Highpoint Church in 2010...
1. Stop people from reading the Bible, journaling, praying or any other spiritual disciplines. Jack with people’s Priority Time.
2. Keep people from finding friends – cause another season of...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday
afternoon I started having severe pain in my abdomen. After blaming Milano’s pizza for my troubles I find out I’m
showing all the signs of appendicitis.
To make a long story short – I went to the ER and got a CAT scan confirming
the appendicitis and was taken back for immediate surgery. Needless to say, this was totally
unexpected and the timing was terribly inconvenient. So, why do these things happen? I wish I had that answer – I’d write a book and be...
Monday, December 07, 2009
Christmas is ultimately about Mercy. Mercy is NOT getting what we clearly deserve. Christmas is the story of God doing
what He did not have to do. He
sent us a Savior, His only Son to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem. This child was the actual, physical proof
of God’s mercy. Everything we celebrate
during the Christmas season: Love, Peace, Joy, family, food, goofy Christmas sweaters,
etc. are all built on the foundation of God’s mercy. Without God’s great...
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Don’t
miss this. Christmas in a Red Bag
(CRB) has become one of the best ways I keep Christmas in perspective. It is so easy to turn a season that is
definitively about giving into a season all about getting. Christmas sometimes comes with a dark
side of attitudes of entitlement and expectations about what we “should”
get. We even at time have the
audacity to turn our nose up at certain gifts and celebrate others. We have become drunk with...
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I
think many of us make the Thanksgiving Mistake. It is this mistake that affects whether or not we are truly
thankful. I believe strongly that
one of the essentials to a healthy relationship is gratitude. Think about it, do you have a good
relationship with anyone that you aren’t regularly thankful for? Think about the closest relationships
in your life…do they know you are thankful for them? Do you know they are thankful for you?
...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.”
Men, pay attention. This truth is powerful. Psalm 119:9 talks about a
man keeping his “way” pure. This “way”
is a reference to life. The “way”
you make decisions. The “way” you
relate with people. The “way” you
conduct business. The “way” you
speak. The “way” you integrate God’s
truth into your life. We must
guard our “way.” ...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A few lessons I’ve learned on hiring church staff members…
1. Your vision MUST be the main attraction and the greatest part of the compensation package.
2. Hire raving fans only! (See Ken Blanchard’s book by the same title.)
3. Hire slowly, no slower, no really – SLOW DOWN!
4. No emotional hires – there is usually a correlation between the emotional high that drove the hire and the...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
It
so happens that October is a big “awareness” month. Great causes like Breast Cancer, Domestic Violence and lets
not forget Clergy appreciation! Among the many great causes October is near and
dear to my heart…Down syndrome.
My
son has more chromosomes than your son!
Cooper now almost 3 years old has Down syndrome, which occurs in one in
every 733 live births worldwide. It affects people of all ages, races and
economic levels and is the most frequently...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Today
I read a stat that 76% of pastors are either overweight or obese! I couldn’t believe it…well I could but
it was still shocking to hear. The
hypocrisy of the situation is obvious but the reality is sad. Some may want to start yelling
back at every overweight preacher that has yelled at you about drinking,
smoking or a hundred other physical abuses. The truth is those who struggle with their weight feel just
as guilty. They know it isn’t right
and...
Monday, October 12, 2009
1. Burden. I usually feel a certain passion
for every message I teach however this morning I felt a heavy burden. I sensed that God truly wanted to
speak to our church. I was
especially convicted to pray that we listen. I can’t read minds but it seemed like the prayer is
answered. The subject of sin
is heavy anyway but I believe we must not ever allow the burden of it to
leave our preaching/teaching otherwise we lose the power of the gospel.
2....
Friday, October 09, 2009
The
Nobel Peace Prize is the hottest topic on Facebook and Twitter today and if you
don’t know why, I’m not telling you!
However, it did get me thinking.
This coveted award is granted to people who promote peace and make an unprecedented
and undeniable impact in our world.
This month as I teach about sin and the fall of man I am reminded that
sin not only damaged our standing with God; it destroyed it. Sin is not simply a problem that needs
solving; it is death...
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Falling Short.
“Sin
is both the overstepping of a line and the failure to reach it- both
transgression and shortcoming. Sin
is a missing of the mark, a spoiling of the good, a staining of the garments, a
hitch in one’s gait, a wandering from the path, a fragmenting of the
whole. Sin is what culpably
disturbs shalom. Sinful human life
is a caricature of proper human life.”
- Neal Plantinga
I
love this quote and encourage...
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Recently, I read this article from my favorite author, John Ortberg. It is called the Sin Tamer which pairs perfectly with my current series, Fallen. Click here to read the SIN TAMER. I hope it makes sense. AS