A number of years ago, there was an old tenured professor at Harvard Divinity School who was being subjected to considerable ridicule because of his belief in the virgin birth of Jesus. One day, one of his younger colleagues challenged the old professor for holding what was regarded as an intellectually irresponsible position. The younger professor said, “Do you mean to tell me that if some young woman from Boston came into the hospital and said she was going to have a baby, that she was a virgin, and that an angel......

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This past weekend, President George H. W. Bush passed away at the age of 94. Bush was elected President of the United States when I was only eight years old. When I was in fourth grade at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, I had the chance to go hear him speak live. It was an experience I will never forget. President Bush served our country well. Before being elected President, he was Vice President under Ronald Reagan, Director of the CIA under President Gerald Ford, Ambassador to the United Nations under President......

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Is it possible to be spiritually mature and emotionally immature? New York pastor Peter Scazzero has emphatically said no for years.  In his book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, he talks about how he had to first learn this lesson the hard way.  There were three factors that brought him to this realization, all of which will hit close to home for all clergy and religious leaders. First, he became frustrated, unhappy, overworked, and lost his sense of joy.  He was burned out and needed a break. Second, he became angry, bitter, and depressed. ......

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Every human being longs to be happy, but we all recognize that happiness is fleeting.  It comes and goes. One day we are up, the next day we’re down.  One day we are on top of the world, the next day, the world has run us over.     Our founding fathers said that we have a God-given right to life, liberty, and the “pursuit” of happiness.  Everybody enters this pursuit very differently.  In his book The Happiness Hypothesis, NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt identifies three different theories of human happiness.    The first theory is the “progress......

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The leadership of Woodmont has rolled out a vision for the future. It is a bold vision and one that looks down the road to future generations. I am reminded of a minister I once heard who said, “I would rather try to do something great for God and fail than to try nothing at all and succeed.” I echo that sentiment. This vision has us building on the seventy-five-year history and tradition of Woodmont. This vision is grounded in faith and scripture (I Cor 3:10-11). This vision is one that we have......

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WHY ARE WE DOING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW? This is the result of over several years of visioning and strategic planning by the church’s leadership. Multiple boards and committees have analyzed and discussed our need for additional space. We have significant support from lead donors and longtime members. We have experienced tremendous growth at Woodmont in recent years which has resulted in some “good problems.” This is the time to do it. WHAT ARE THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN? 1) Adding five additional children’s classrooms , a gathering area, and......

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In conversations that I have had over the years with those who are not Christian or who might call themselves disengaged or disillusioned Christians, the subject of hypocrisy often arises. How can Christians say they believe what Jesus taught if they fail to live it?  To be more specific, how can you read the Sermon on the Mount but still support war and violence?  How can you claim to believe in forgiveness but hold onto grudges and resentments forever?  How can you love your neighbor but judge those who are different?    How......

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At Woodmont Christian Preschool, learning isn’t just cracking a book open and dispelling information. It goes much deeper. With a holistic philosophy of serving kids intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, creatively, and spiritually, the preschool aims to create future innovators and problem solvers, those who have a true love for the process of learning. “Our children are always encouraged to try new things, think out of the box, succeed, fail, regroup, and try again,” said Preschool Director Martha Brothers Duff, who is in her fifth year as director. Preschool Director Martha Brothers Duff......

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