Storyline | our story, God's Story

Don’t Leave the Best Behind

December 27, 2012 —

We saw the new film, “Les Miserables” last night. Criticize Russell Crowe’s portrail of Detective Javert all you want, but I’ve not been to a movie with such emotional impact in a long time. The story anchors strong on the rock of hope God’s love makes possible.

It’s caked with the soggy clay of our human condition. You know, our easy slide toward corruption. And it’s layered with the beauty and strength of God’s love lavishly poured out on people like you and me.

An early scene sets the direction of the cause-and-effect of grace to follow. Jean Valjean finds surprise sanctuary in the home of a bishop. As a former prisoner, Valjean’s found it impossible to get work, so in the middle of the night he succumbs to vice and makes off with a full shoulder-bag of the priest’s silverware.

Watch what happens next Continue Reading…

In Faith, Stories

Groomsmen’s Gaff

October 19, 2012 —

If you want a good story, just ask a minister – we all have wedding stories.

Once I was performing the ceremony of a young woman very special to our family. We were in a magnificent sanctuary and I was on the other side of the door next to the organ with the groom.

We made small talk waiting for the groomsmen and he paced nervously, steeling himself for the big moment. Then his groomsmen joined us and let’s just say … they were leaning a little sideways.

I was incensed.

They tried to stand straight and I let ’em have it, “How dare you show up like this!?”

I peeked out and saw the church overflowing with people as piano music made the moment seem like a daydream. It was a nightmare one door away. Continue Reading…

In Behind The Scenes, Faith, Stories

I’ve never done this before

September 26, 2012 —

Confession: I know I’m supposed to … but I’ve never done this before.

I was raised in a home soaked through with scripture and ongoing conversations about God. At twelve, I decided to follow Christ for life. As my timeline unfurled I ended up in two seminaries culminating with a doctoral degree … but I’ve never done this before.

Seminary leads to the local church and that’s where I’ve pitched my tent for the last 23 years. As a pastor, studying it to speak, teach and write make up much of my work week … but I’ve never done this before: I’ve never Continue Reading…

In Church, Devotion, Faith

Meeting With Weyman

September 13, 2012 —

This one caught me by surprise.

Most friends have had health hardships for some time, but Weyman Terry, at 87, still did 500 situps and 200 pushups regularly. I had just seen him at church that morning – as always, dressed to the nines.

Today I officiate his funeral.

Our church staff lunched at Terry’s Market, Diana bought steaks for family grilling and I took my sons there, showing them Continue Reading…

In Behind The Scenes, Church, Stories

Kid Pix from Mother’s Day 2012

May 18, 2012 —

Last Sunday’s Mother’s Day passage was from Psalm 131, the central image of which is a child held close in it’s mother’s arms not getting what it wants. As a part of the message I shared these pictures given to me by children at our church as an example of humility (Psalm 131:1). Enjoy and please stay for my reflections at the end.

I like how my Bible looks like the 10 Commandments

Note her cute curls & my hair up on end from “product”

In Behind The Scenes, Church

Easter

April 9, 2012 —

Easter is THE day. It’s when we celebrate a down-from-heaven, killed-on-a-cross, brought-back-to-life Messiah. It’s not over, it’s Easter!

Keep in mind …

God doesn’t grade on a curve, we do. We compare our lives to others around us so we won’t feel bad about how we live.

The BAD news – sin disgusts God. We’ve spent thousands of years trying to do it on our own and the best we can come up with is to pat ourselves on the back for doing something good or not being as bad as someone else.
The GOOD news – Jesus did what we never could. He lived perfectly, beautifully, majestically. Although thousands have been crucified, His is the only one we hear of. He didn’t deserve it – He chose it.

Jesus didn’t die to make you feel ashamed or guilty. He died to remove your shame and guilt. Just like a brother would die for his sister or a mom wouldn’t hesitate Continue Reading…

In Faith

“Baby Come Back” or “Life without the Wife”

July 21, 2011 —

Baby Come Back or Life Without the Wife

Some of you know Diana, my wife of has been out of the country going on two weeks. She and our eldest son are on a church trip to Kenya serving children in an AIDS orphanage in a variety of ways.

For 18 years she’s held the fort while I’ve traveled. Now holding down the fort down has taken on a whole new meaning, and school’s not even in session with get-to-school-on-time schedules and homework help.

Earlier this month at the U2 concert

Here’s a smidgen of what I’m learning while Di’s away: Continue Reading…

In Behind The Scenes, Stories

Clean Slate (literally)

June 20, 2011 —

Tenth Avenue North‘s “You Are More” has a good video concept and storyline … but the chorus to this song is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time.

I watched “the making of the video” on their website and – get this – all the failures, doubts and hangups posted on the chalkboard behind them were submitted by fans who were struggling. Some even got to come in and write them for the shoot.

God’s given you a clean slate and you are more!

In Faith, Music

God of This City

June 13, 2011 —

The Big Apple Adventure was a flat-out blast at First Baptist last week. Our people really did up the whole New York City theme – there were subway stations, manhole covers in the hallway, skylines covering the windows, the Statue of Liberty and the sanctuary platform looked like Central Park (you can see earlier posts for examples).

The concept of really drove home a Scriptural truth: God cares about our cities. We’re walking through the Gospel of Mark verse-by-verse at our church and already we’ve seen Jesus defy the demands of the crowd because of the cities:

They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the next towns, so I may preach there, too. This is why I have come.” (Mark 1:37-38)

This incident is by no means stand alone in the life of Jesus. The Bible shows that He heals cities, weeps over cities, calls for cities to respond to His love.

Cities matter to Christ because …

Continue Reading…

In Church

VBS (still) Rocks!

June 6, 2011 —

All smiles at VBS

As I write our campus is crawling with kids of all ages (that includes grown ups). Everyone’s styling in their taxi-cab-yellow tee shirts and smiles are on every face. Here’s five reasons I think VBS (still) rocks:

1) All In. When we gather in the sanctuary for the kickoff each morning, one can see the Continue Reading…

In Church