I had just dropped off my oldest at high school. I was telling myself not to get in a bad mood so early in the day due to traffic that was beyond my control. It wasn’t working. Because I drink so much water and coffee every morning I was also internally debating whether to run into Target to use their facilities or try to make it the church office. I decided to try and make it. To get my mind... Read more
“For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” John 6:55 Â Though I would not consider myself a “foodie,” I do love me some food. I am not an expert of food nor drink by any stretch of the imagination, but I know good barbecue when I smell it. I know the difference between Folgers and Starbucks. I know when a hamburger is made of cow or mushrooms. And I know the difference between spicy and... Read more
West Franklin Family, On September 23rd, 2001, the church I pastored was half as full as it had been the previous week. The week prior was September 16th, 2001 – when the church was literally packed to the gills – the Sunday after the horrific events that transpired on September 11th, 2001. I had been a pastor for a whopping 5 months. A true veteran at the whole pastor thing. Many will say that America “turned to the Lord” for... Read more
“Rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18 Recently I had the privilege of listening to this podcast. An interview between Carey Nieuwhof and Gordon MacDonald. I am only about a fifth of the way through and am compelled to write this thought down. Gordon MacDonald is 80 years old and reflected on his life and ministry leadership by offering 15 Life Lessons. The podcast is Nieuwhof’s attempt to draw out as much as he can from MacDonald on... Read more
Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the... Read more
West Franklin Family, “And on that day they (were) rejoicing because God had given them great joy. . . The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” (Nehemiah 12:43) I imagine a young child out in the field with his father. The boy is hoping his dad is ready to stop for the day. He’s wondering what momma is fixing for supper. He’s hot. He’s sweaty. He’s ready for the harvest season to be over. Suddenly he... Read more
“My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working. . . and He will show Him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” (John 5:17, 20)  Jesus makes two very clear and important declarations here. One He and the Father are always working. Two, they work so we would be amazed. Go back and read the verses and the two declarations again. Seriously. Go ahead. Now think about it.... Read more
West Franklin Family, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the massive influence dads have on their children. Just this morning on my walk, I saw a 7 or 8 year old boy straining to see his dad work a front end loader. The boy was in awe. That was his daddy and he was so proud. You could all but visibly see the images of him being like his dad one day passing through his imaginative mind. This week... Read more
West Franklin Family, I read this quote recently and found it, not only true, but very intriguing. “The only place you can go today and take off your mask in public? The table. You have to wear your mask to get there, but once at the table with your tablemates, you take off your mask. The Table unmasks us all, and unmasks all of us.” (Leonard Sweet) I hate wearing masks, but I love this thought. There is something about... Read more
Some of you just clicked on this thinking, “Oh no. We’ve lost Pearson. He’s ‘one of them’ now. I can’t believe it.” Hang with me for a moment. This isn’t a political thing. I’ve grown up red. I live in a red state. I pastor (mostly) red people. I’ve been told I have a red neck. I am a Bible-believing, evangelical conservative. You can exhale. I own, and am proud of my right to own, a Daisy BB gun. But I... Read more
Churched
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