19
Jun 2018
I came across this article by Doug Powe and Ann A. Michel earlier this month and I found it fascinating as we prepare to install our new leaders this coming Sunday. I think these trends are well worth sharing and taking time for reflection. 1. Changes in church attendance patterns Since 2001, worship attendance had been trending downward in many denominations, following a modest rebound in the 1990s. And declining worship attendance now plagues evangelical and Catholic churches in addition to the mainline. One contributing factor seems to be that “regular attenders”......
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12
Jun 2018
I believe in certain truths that are universal for almost all human beings. First, we all want to be loved, appreciated, and respected. Second, we all search for meaning and purpose in our lives and we want our lives to matter and make a difference. Third, we all seek to form and sustain meaningful relationships with other people because we are social creatures by our very nature. Fourth, we all want to experience happiness, however, we understand that concept. Fifth, we all have to deal with pain, disappointment, and heartache no matter......
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15
May 2018
May is a month full of graduations, commencements, or “new beginnings.” Graduates are seeking wisdom and guidance as they move ahead to life’s next chapter and venture into the unknown future. A good starting point might be to avoid Mahatma Gandhi’s seven blunders of the world: wealth without work; pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; commerce without morality; science without humanity; religion without sacrifice; politics without principle. Living by the Golden Rule can serve any person well. But here are some additional reflections for the journey ahead: • Life is a gift......
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17
Apr 2018
One of the reasons we financially support the church is because we believe in the importance of community. Christianity is a faith that is practiced in community, in relationship with others. These faith-based relationships are some of the most meaningful connections we will have in life. This is very important for a variety of reasons. Social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and depression are growing challenges in the twenty-first century. Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam first identified the early warning signs almost twenty years ago in his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival......
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20
Mar 2018
Billy Graham passed away peacefully on February 21, 2012, at his family home in Montreat, NC at the age of 99. Many have referred to him as the most influential preacher since the Apostle Paul. That would be difficult to argue. An advisor to twelve different US Presidents, Graham traveled the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in stadiums and arenas on multiple continents. There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Billy Graham. First, he was committed to the Bible. He believed that the Bible speaks God’s......
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13
Mar 2018
It has been a difficult week for the city of Nashville. The resignation of a mayor is fairly unprecedented. Our city certainly needs prayers and healing. Whenever a scandal dominates the news, it becomes convenient and easy to focus on the problems of others. But Lent is actually a time of self-reflection and personal growth, reminiscent of Jesus’ time in the wilderness. In our culture, many are simply not up for the challenge. Why? Personal growth is difficult and coming to terms with our own shortcomings and character flaws is always uncomfortable.......
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27
Feb 2018
Last Wednesday, a grieving father stood before President Trump at the White House and with anger and rage in his voice asked, “How many children have to be shot in this country before we do something? I’m here today because my daughter has no voice. She was murdered last week, taken from us, shot nine times.” That same night, Senator Marco Rubio walked into a heated town hall gathering in Sunrise, FL where he faced the same question from parents, family, and surviving students of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas......
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20
Feb 2018
Of the many hats that I am blessed to wear, I believe the most important one by far is being a husband and a father. Megan and I have three children: Montgomery (7), Clayton (6), and Wade (19 months). They are each unique in their own way. Somebody once said that when it comes to parenting, “the days are long but the years are fast!” I can certainly relate to that sentiment. Sometimes it is hard to believe that the time goes by as quickly as it does. I try to spend......
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06
Feb 2018
Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and a professor at the University of Toronto, has just published a new book titled 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. I am only a few chapters in and it’s pretty fascinating. Peterson is an interesting guy. He taught mythology to lawyers, doctors, and business people, consulted for the UN Secretary General, helped his clinical clients manage depression, OCD, anxiety, and schizophrenia. He taught at Harvard before going to Toronto and has lectured extensively in North America and Canada. He also has a strong YouTube......
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02
Feb 2018
Popular Patheos blogger Benjamin Corley recently published a book titled “Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based Faith.” Corley grew up in an ultra-conservative, hell fire and brimstone tradition where sin, judgment, and the wrath of God were pivotal parts of the theology. Years later, he suffered a mid-life spiritual awakening. He asked himself, “Why would God seek to punish and torture his creation? Why are so many Christians taught that we are undeserving, inadequate, unloved, and damned?” It no longer made sense in his mind. He was over it, and he’s not alone. Many in our culture have had it......
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