If you’ve come to Mt Vernon the past few weeks, you’ve heard about an incredible ministry partnership opportunity. For those of you who haven’t heard, let me share an incredible ministry opportunity we have called Children of Hope. Several years ago, Mt Vernon took a mission trip down to the Dominican Republic. While there, our church saw God open a door for us in the Batey (slums) of Baharona. If you don’t know, Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the... Read more
BIG Idea: Work hard at whatever you do. When I landed my first “ministry” job, I had a choice to make. I had just returned from a missionary stint in Africa and got a job as a youth pastor in Mississippi. I was in full-time pursuit of my Master’s degree from seminary. I was engaged to be married to my wife Robin. The pastor at the time told me honestly, “this is a full-time job, but we can only pay... Read more
I was drawn to this book because I’m an avid Saturday Night Live fan. The show’s ability to weave entertainment with contemporary social commentary makes it a show that continues to be relevant into its third decade. Darrell Hammond is one of the more recognizable faces on the show because of his longevity (14 seasons, a record). His brilliance was his ability to impersonate almost anybody. While his most famous impersonation was Bill Clinton, he did a whole host of... Read more
I don’t know where you are in your marriage. You may be just starting out or rounding out twenty years together. Your fire may still be burning bright or may have died out a long time ago, leaving only lukewarm embers. As I’ve counseled with couples about their marriages, I’ve found that every situation is unique. Every marriage has its own baggage and history. But there are a few things that will help any marriage. Here’s one I want to... Read more
Hey everyone, I hope you’ve had a great week! Here are links to five articles guaranteed to keep you thinking through the weekend. If you’re in Columbus, MS this weekend, come visit us at Mt Vernon! 1. This is the Longest Sermon at Your Church – great article by Jon Acuff. And great reason why you need to go to the 9:00 am service! 2. Have Our Children Forgotten How to Play Outdoors? – great book review and great reason... Read more
Adoption has become a central part of my life story, and it’s a blessing that I’m thankful for every day. Why did Robin and I adopt? There were several reasons that led us to adopt our first two children (Zeke and Shepherd). 1. We wanted children. We both knew even before we married that we wanted several kids. Before it was even time to start trying for kids, we had agreed that we wanted to have several of our own... Read more
BIG Idea: There is no excuse for sitting on the sidelines of the Kingdom. A few days before my sixteenth birthday, my family moved several hours away to a new city and a new church. This experience was as traumatic as you might imagine. No kid likes moving to a new area and having to make new friends. I had been very attached to my previous youth group, which ran around 50-60 kids. The first Sunday at my new church,... Read more
I’ve read several books where Dwight D. Eisenhower was a principal player, most notably as a general in World War II. This book, however, was the first historical biography (I’ve read) that exclusively chronicled the White House years of Eisenhower. Part of my interest in the 1950s stems from the idyllic place it holds in the lore of American culture. For many, the 1950s was the high point, the pinnacle of American success. Many older Americans who look at today’s... Read more
This past June Robin and I celebrated ten years of marriage. I wanted to take a moment and share ten things I learned. Last week I shared the first five. Today I’ll share five more things I’ve learned over the years. 6. I know why so many couples think divorce is the easiest option. I know this is something I’m probably not supposed to admit as a pastor, but I know why divorce can be so tempting. During our first ten... Read more
This post is a follow up to the message I preached this morning at Mt. Vernon. The BIG Idea was: The better the teacher, the better the learning. Who are you learning from? Here’s a list of what I’m choosing to learn from today. BIBLE – my personal Bible reading plan has me reading the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament four times a year. Here’s what I’m reading this next week: Sunday – Proverbs 11-12, 1... Read more
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