Category: Uncategorized

I confess that not much of this is original, I am sure many others have seen what I have seen.  These are my observations from the campaign and the post-election results.  For the sake of full disclosure I was not able in conscience to vote for either of the big party candidates and did in fact…

This last Sunday I had the joy of preaching from Colossians 3:1-17.  I entitled the sermon, “What you wearing?” with the subtitle, “Wha’d you call me?”  Please don’t worry about the spelling or grammar.    I don’t usually write my sermons, and don’t have very extensive notes, but I thought I might want to share…

    Lord, I come today to pray for my country. I believe you are my Father, the mighty God, ruler of all mankind and all creation.  I believe you are King of time and history, the Ancient of Days, but also the controller of the days to come.  You are the One who is…

ENOUGH! Sad again in my dismay, Frequency’s bitter Frustration All and each time I see One more act of violence gratuitous: Official misconduct An act of rage Here one of murder Victim by mob Drive bye Ambush; Bullies at it again. Fractured skulls, Blood oozes out of Kinetic invasive holes, Suffocated by the weight Of…

  We once again face a national election.  As an Evangelical Christian I watch along with my fellow countrymen at some of the political dynamics of our national parties and government and wonder just what is wrong with us?    I suppose some can observe the political drama and think American democracy is healthy since many…

   I wanted to take a few moments to speak to an issue that I see bedevil pastors and church planters.  I think it is a very old issue, but one that feels new every time it happens.   The old issue is one to which the Apostle Paul spoke when he said to the Philippians,…

   What are we to do about injustice?  How should the Christian respond?  There are so many questions and issues involved.  Complicating these questions are the political perspectives many have, which are not always Christian but may pose as such.   From these political perspectives sometimes charity is lost in evaluating the involvement of other believers…

A few thoughts on ideas raised about finding a spouse at New City. By Randy Nabors (These are just my very earthly opinions, with some Scriptural thoughts thrown in, so feel free to disagree and criticize with my very man centered observations.)    As a pastor it has always been a concern of mine about…

While the news seems to carry no recent story of police shootings, or police being shot, I want to make some comments unrelated to an immediate or current situation.  I know that there will be future killings which I believe to be inevitable; though deplorable and tragic it is nevertheless fairly predictable.     As a…

   One wishes to be able to say something helpful and meaningful in the time of death, in the time of violence, in the time of injustice, and in a time of polarization.  There are others of course who think the unbridled expression of their anger and frustration is legitimate, who seem to think that…

We want to praise the Lord for the wonderful things he does.  We were praying for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America as they were considering a public confession concerning racism, both during the time of Civil Rights and even up to today, and a commitment to struggle against it.  In the…

I’m about to go to a meeting and at this meeting there will be discussions going on about racism.  This will be a rather significant meeting since it is the annual meeting of my denomination and the discussions are going to lead to various actions, reactions, and attitudes.  What will be thought, said, or done…

  I am fairly loath to ever make pronouncements as to whether or not someone who has just died has gone to hell.  That decision is “above my pay-grade” as we used to say in the military.  It is also out of my knowledge base or capacity to know someone’s dying prayer, or dying hope and faith. …

I was asked a question this morning that was, in a sense, a request for an apologetic of my life.  I was asked this question as I trained coaches who will be engaged in a ministry for the summer that uses soccer to gather inner-city children into teams, which will provide an opportunity for these…

1.     Pastors ought not to yell at people.   You might yell when you preach but if you ever have to personally confront, rebuke, or reprove someone use a gentle tone of voice.  Often members will feel you are “yelling” at them simply because you tell them the truth about themselves, just don’t really yell.  It…

    I read in Luke 3:7-14 about John the Baptist calling on people to repent.  “What should we do then?’  The crowd asked.  John answered, ‘The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.’”    I thought on this first part…

What is the difference between a critique of a situation, event, or person and complaining?  That is easy for me; when I do it then it is a critique, but when others do it they are complaining.  How I wish I was really that righteous and could say that in all honesty.    I sometimes…

I want to speak about investments for a moment.  Yes, this has to do with money.   No, it has nothing to do with getting your money back, at least not for yourself.      Churches make decisions on investing.  Either that do or they don’t, and just as in financial markets when and if…