An Affirming Congregation in Nashville
Did you know that at least 70% of a pastor’s job is dealing with conflict? Now before you jump to conclusions remember that conflict is not always personal. It could be that you have a conflict between wanting to spend money and having none. It could be reconciling your faith with who you were created to be. It can be an internal conflict about what you want to be in life. It can be … [Read more...]
If you are reading this it is because you were “left behind” just as I was during this last rapture. Well, really you are thinking who are these crazy people to think that they could know that Jesus would come back on May 21, 2011. How did they miss Matthew 24:36 where Jesus says: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the … [Read more...]
“Jesus is coming look busy.” That is a bumper sticker and/or T-Shirt we have either all seen or heard about. The saying though belies our reliance on our understanding of what God is looking for rather that for which God is actually looking. We either assume one of two things: that we are to be so busy that we never enjoy life, or that our entire focus is only to be on the “spiritual” … [Read more...]
Have you ever been embarrassed to be identified as a member of your family? Maybe because they were not as cosmopolitan as you were. Maybe because they had a past with which you never wished to be associated. Many have changed names, locations, even lives because of their embarrassment about family. Keeping different compartments in our lives is basically about being embarrassed about at … [Read more...]
Have you noticed that many surrender their faith due to other’s thoughts, or they have a simple 5th grade understanding of their faith never really growing into something that sustains, or they make their faith all about them and the blessings that they receive rather than the one whom they claim to follow. If we were honest, most of the people reading this have one of the above types of … [Read more...]
Why do we believe the lie that people can be an overnight success? If we look at those who have indeed stepped into success they will tell you that there is no such thing as something just happening. They had to prepare, their character, and way of doing life had been in place and prepared as they moved to the eventual goal God had for them. Now, before we go on, success is not getting rich … [Read more...]
These past weeks have been busy. We had a bitter election that changed control of the House of Representatives. We have had Thanksgiving. The Choir had a special, and there are still “Greyhound Christmas,” and Lessons & Carols to go as we move closer to Christmas. Belmont fired, or asked for the resignation of, their soccer coach. So many things have happened that seem to have … [Read more...]
“Is my two front teeth, my two front teeth.” Most of us can recall that song being sung in Christmases past, the song was novel yet none of us really asked for two front teeth. We wanted toys, new clothes, whatever the latest craze was at that time. They were often great Christmases, yet something tells me that they were not in most ways life changing or even giving. Each year people … [Read more...]
The name comes from so many origins, all true, but some more relevant than others. The one I am most familiar with is the fact that many retailers operate in the negative (red) until today and then start making profits after this day. Many are so tied to the Holiday season that they do not make any profits until this time of year. I wonder if we model our faith on this same … [Read more...]
