“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48 It’s been a surreal few days to see how quickly the face of NBC News has fallen from his pedestal atop the news world. Much more than a newscaster, Williams was a quasi-entertainer with his comedic timing and constant presence on the talk show scene. He was about as mainstream and beloved... Read more
I had it all planned out. John and Jennifer* were a new couple who had come to our church for a few weeks but I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet them. So I found them on Facebook, got my creep on and memorized their names and faces. The following Sunday I was all ready to greet them by name. The only minor detail I forgot was getting the right couple. So last Sunday I saw a new couple that had just walked past... Read more
Comparison is a cancer that will steal your joy and rob you of the peace God has for you. As the Bible says, “A heart at peace gives life to the bones, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30) If we traced the cancer of comparison all the way back to its roots, we’d find that the first critical misstep is when we move our eyes. Hebrews 12:2 gives us a clear command, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,... Read more
Need a reminder that the little things you do matter? Watch this short video as I tell the story of how something small I did had a profound impact in someone else’s life. https://vimeo.com/118601894 Read more
“Does your church still baptize people?” That was a well meaning question that came from someone in our community. This might seem like an odd question, but the truth of the matter is we boarded up our baptistry three years ago. Walled it up and replaced it with a gigantic screen. And we’ve been baptizing people ever since. We made the decision to board up our baptistry and go with a portable baptistry for several reasons: 1). We want to bring baptism... Read more
Just in case you forgot why you’ve mentally blocked out most of your middle school experience, let me remind you. This illustration opened up our series The Comparison Trap. https://vimeo.com/118650278 Read more
People are still talking about the Super Bowl. That last play call for Seahawks’ coach Pete Carroll will haunt him forever. With the Superbowl on the line, Pete Carroll needed one more yard to secure a victory for his team. Really it was a half yard. His star running back, Marshawn Lynch, had been productive against the Patriots and could have picked up a yard falling forward. To armchair play callers around the country, Pete Carroll had one of three options... Read more
I still can’t believe the Seahawks lost the game last night. I’ll always be a die-hard Saints fan (Who Dat!), but last night I was pulling for Seattle. If you’re any type of football fan you couldn’t help but get pulled into this game as it literally went down to the wire. Two minutes left, Seahawks need a drive down the field and touchdown to win. The football gods seem to line up the stars for the Seahawks on that... Read more
We’ve all experienced it. We’re feeling good about ourselves, our looks, our lot in life. But then we make the mistake of looking to the left and to the right. And we see someone who is richer, prettier, stronger, happier, more successful. And suddenly we don’t feel as good about ourselves. How can we escape the comparison trap? If you’re in Columbus this weekend, join us at Mt Vernon Church tomorrow at 9 am and 10:30 am for the Comparison... Read more
Happy Friday everyone! May your weekend be warm(er) and sunny! Here are five articles to keep you thinking through the weekend. “American Sniper” and the Christian Worldview – solid article about the movie everyone is talking about! ‘Christian Cleavage’ Probably Isn’t the Problem – great article on modesty and the church. Why All Comparisons Are Bad and How to Avoid Them – this sets up perfectly the new series we’re starting Sunday! For Years I Pleaded With God to Make... Read more
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