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20 Ways You Start to Know that You are a Preacher
In my short time as a preacher, I have been called on to do many things and have faced many ups and downs. When I think about these experiences, they pale in comparison to many who read this and have worked longer and done far more. Please read this list knowing that this is not a “resume” or an “I’m better than other preachers” list. Please read it as (1) a fellow preacher who is beginning to understand, or (2) a preacher trying to let “non-preachers” know a bit of the heart of the men who stand before you and try to present God’s Word as best we can, though we…
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10 Things I'm Very Thankful For
We are often told to “count our blessings,” and the Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to really do that. None of us could ever list every single thing with which God has blessed us, but we can all think of a few things that are most important. This list is not comprehensive, but let me share a few things for which I’m thankful. Maybe this will help you get your list started. 1. I’m thankful that Jesus died on the cross in fulfillment of God’s plan. Our God truly is loving, and that love was demonstrated on Calvary. Though He wished for the “cup to pass,” Jesus still went…
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Friday Links Roundup: espn360 Edition
We don’t have TV anymore, but I am still getting to see a little bit of basketball. We love espn360.com. Okay, I love espn360.com, and Leah admits that she’s glad I’m getting to see some college basketball, as well. In fact, on most days, there are more choices on there than on TV. I’ve already seen at least a few minutes of over 20 teams play and with the Thanksgiving week tournaments coming, I’m looking forward to seeing more. (Here’s hoping for a classic soon between Duke and UConn in their preseason tournament!) On to the links for this week: 1. Cindy Colley (welcome to the blog reader) writes a powerful…
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Reflections on "Where No One Stands Alone"
When I was in the Sonshine Singers at Freed-Hardeman, we sang the beautiful hymn “Where No One Stands Alone” many times. The song was also a favorite at campus singings and devotionals. It’s always fascinating to me what “old” songs are commonly sung by young people and young adults. The hymn reflects a theme that is common to many other great songs: God’s protection. We go through moments in life when we feel alone, but, as the song eloquently states, we “cry” to God, “Don’t hide Your face from me.” Aren’t you thankful that God is always there! In my mind, though, it’s the chorus of the song that gives it a…
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7 Little "Extras" that Make Visitors Feel Welcome
Every congregation has visitors. Even small, rural congregations have visitors from time-to-time. Since we are in a fairly large city (and near the airport, Opryland Hotel, and LP Field), we have regular visitors. We are always excited to see new faces. Visitors are exciting, whether from near or far. I have never met with anyone who says, “Our congregation just isn’t friendly.” Every congregation thinks it is doing well in welcoming visitors, but we’ve all had moments where we knew we didn’t feel welcome. What are some steps congregations can take? Here are just a few, and I hope you’ll add to the list in the comments. 1. Greet people…
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Commenting on Commentaries
I love commentaries. I don’t have as many as I’d like to have, but I love the ones I have, and I like having the church library just down the hall to fill in some gaps in my own library. Obviously, there are some that I like more than others, and some I trust very deeply. Others I read more for word study or just for a quote or two. Some do not see the need for such volumes. 300 pages on James? Who needs that much material? (My dad has a 10-volume commentary just on Hebrews, and each volume has about 250 pages!!!) Most preachers have at least a…
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Friday Links Roundup: Too Early Edition
I went to a mall today. That, in and of itself, is news. I just don’t like malls. I like a handful of stores, but I don’t like the whole mall culture. As we were there, I heard something strange over the loudspeakers. It was Christmas music!!! Santa’s workshop was set up for pictures! Folks, let me say this as kindly as I can: it’s too early!!! Can we please wait until Thanksgiving is over to start this stuff? We’d still have a month. That’s 1/12 of the year, and that’s plenty of time to center on one holiday. After all, Thanksgiving is better anyway!!! Whew. I feel better, but…
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Guest Post: "The Church and Vision"
[Today marks the final installment in our “The Church and…” series. Chris Gallagher is our guest writer today. Chris lives near Charleston, South Carolina, where he preaches and also does motivational speaking. He is married to Carrie and they have three children. Chris is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman. You can check out his blog, Preacher’s Pen, here. We are grateful to Chris for taking the time to write our final installment to our series.] November is a challenging time for every congregation of the Lord’s church; because November begins the process of budget planning. A quick look at any church budget will give an in-depth look to the vision of…
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Why Veteran's Day Matters to Our Family
[It’s Wednesday, but there’s no list today. I think this post will touch your heart on this great holiday, though.] I’m thankful for Veteran’s Day. I’ve never had to serve in our nation’s armed forces, but our family has many who have served, helped, and trained throughout the years. I’m grateful that we have that legacy in our family. While I don’t like war, I’m grateful for those who are willing to stand for freedom and who are willing to go away from family for lengthy periods of time to help others. One of the legacies in my family is how my mother’s parents met. Grandpa was wounded in Europe in…
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Being Apathetic: It's Pathetic!
I’ll be the first to admit, I have my lazy moments. There are days when I don’t want to do anything but watch a ball game or just relax. This post isn’t about running 100 miles per hour 24 hours each day. Each person needs time to relax his mind and his body. This post is about apathy, the desire to avoid work. I hate it when I waste a good opportunity. There are so many things I want to accomplish in a day, a month, a year, and (of course) in my lifetime that I hate it when I don’t get something done. It’s more than just being “driven,”…
