New Wineskins
Have a great day! See you tomorrow. Read more
Have a great day! See you tomorrow. Read more
I know it’s tempting, preachers like me droning on and on during a sermon. Did anyone post anything interesting on Instagram in the last twenty minutes? Usually checking your phone during a sermon is a huge faux pas. You break it out and instantaneously feel judgment burning down your neck from the surrounding three rows. Thank goodness for the Bible app! Now you can scroll to your hearts content, with everyone else thinking you’re a studious listener keeping up on your... Read more
Originally posted May 20, 2015 Recently I sat down to counsel with two different people. These two people were at least a decade apart in age, had vastly different life experiences, and were struggling with very different problems. And yet, when we talked, they had both fallen for the same lie. In fact, this lie is the same lie that too many people fall for. I would go so far as to argue that this is the biggest lie that... Read more
There are 66 books in the Bible, but I overwhelmingly stick to four. I don’t think anyone would disapprove about skirting around the layout of the tabernacle in Leviticus or Obadiah laying into the Edomites. But what about Romans? There’s some deep stuff in there. What about Genesis and its incredible stories? What about Revelation? No one really understands it but it’s always fun to read. I believe the entire Bible is inspired by God and given to teach us about Him... Read more
I’ve had lots of strange conversations at church. People stopping me to tell me the most intimate details of their latest surgery (and then they had to remove this but it’s irritated my bowels so much . . .). I’ve had people “bless” me by telling me everything I’m doing wrong or everything they don’t like about the church. But I’ve never had this. This conversation Sunday literally stunned me, and it left me convinced there is hope in the world.... Read more
If you’re ready to change your outlook on life and become a person of hope, here are seven steps that can see hope begin to overflow from within you: 1). Choose to hope. Don’t ever be fooled. Hope is a choice. It’s always been a choice. You are not a slave to your personality. You are not a victim of your circumstances. You have the Spirit of the God who created the heavens and the earth living inside of you. You can choose... Read more
Heavenly Father, this morning as I start this weekend, I humbly come before you and ask: May I savor the beauty of your creation all around me. May the sunshine, green trees and the breeze of the evening fill my heart with wonder at all you have made. May I enjoy the fellowship of the friends around me. May I enjoy the fruit of deep human connections and receive emotional blessing from those around me. May I rest my body, mind and... Read more
I can’t believe it’s been ten years. Hurricane Katrina, a life-defining event for almost everyone in the Deep South, displaced and shifted the lives of millions of people, my family included. It was shortly after Hurricane Katrina that Robin and I moved from Picayune to Jackson, MS. But in God’s sovereignty (and I believe divine sense of humor), Katrina also prepared us for Columbus. The day before Katrina hit, I remember waking up Saturday to mow my lawn. Katrina had... Read more
There are a truckload of issues where Christians are seen to be offensive and countercultural: gay marriage, abortion, religious liberty being the most prevalent. Yet with all of these issues, I would argue that as offensive as our views on these issues might seem to the world, there is one that is more offensive still: the gospel. Why is the gospel so offensive? Because of Jesus’ claims. He says he’s the good shepherd, which means everyone else is lost.... Read more
A marching band in Brandon MS wasn’t allowed to play at the half time of their football game last week because they wanted to How Great Thou Art. A federal judge had specifically ordered the school not to invoke the name of God in any school function. Chick-Fil-A is kept out of the Denver Airport because city council members disagree with the Dan Cathy’s recent comments supporting traditional marriage, comments they say lead to discrimination by the whole company. Christians... Read more
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