A lesson on radiance, goodness and the glory of God from Psalm 34 In 1998, I was crowned champion of the Appalachian State Intramural Pickleball Tournament. (Trust me, that sounds way more glamorous than it actually was.) While pickleball has caught on over time and has become, as one website put it, “one of the … More Radiance & Goodness
Shovels, Wells & Wide Open Spaces Recently my family has been in the process of preparing my grandparent’s farm for sale. This has already proven challenging, especially considering all the sentimental ties. My grandparents purchased this 60+ acre property in 1955, and tended it with great care and fervency – as if it had been … More Rehoboth
January 1, 2018 What’s Your One Word for 2018? The beginning of a New Year marks the time when many people make goals (or resolutions) for areas of their lives they would like to see or experience change. According to Barna Research Group, nearly two-thirds of American’s make New Year’s resolutions, but only 20% report … More One Word, One Year
Sermon from March 17, 2019 at Integrity Church in Burlington on Matthew 7:1:6. While Jesus warns against judging others, He does not forbid all forms of judgement. “Don’t be so critical, but be a little critical.”
Days of Awe Depending on which calendar(s) you may use, whether print or digital, perhaps you’ve noticed a day coming up next Monday, September 10th called Rosh Hashanah. (I use a combination of Apple and Google Calendar, by the way, which I don’t know how I would survive without!) It’s kind of like one of those days like ‘Canadian Flag Day’ that occasionally pops up … More Rosh Hashanah
August 3, 2018 After having several people recommend it to me in recent weeks, I finally went to see the movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor – a documentary on the life and work of Fred Rogers; a man who is perhaps better known by many as Mr. Rogers. Besides the awkwardness of inviting someone (besides my … More Won’t You Be My Neighbor
A couple of years ago, one of our covenant members asked me to be a reference for a program she was applying for called Leadership Rowan. After looking more into the program, I decided not only to serve as a reference, but to also apply myself. Several of you may be familiar with or have … More Local Knowledge
August 11, 2017 You may be familiar with the Oak Grove-Freedman’s Cemetery, located at the corner of Church St. and Liberty St. in downtown Salisbury. If not, let me give you a little background into what I’ve found to be one of the most significant symbols of unity efforts in our community. In 1998, … More A Symbol of Unity
[This appeared first at LifeChurchNC.com] May 19, 2017 Over the last two weeks during our worship gatherings, we have taken a deep and reflective journey into one of Jesusʼs most well-known and familiar parables – The Parable of the Lost Son. As we come to the part of the story where the younger (or prodigal) son returns home, … More The Elder Son
[This appeared first at LifeChurchNC.com] September 2, 2016 Last Sunday, we concluded a 4-part series through the book of Jonah by exploring the dark and lonely feelings associated with depression and thoughts of suicide. Chapter 4 of Jonah concludes with Jonah reaching a point where he wanted his life to end, pleading with God to … More The Weight of Depression and Suicide
[This first appeared at LifeChurchNC.com] March 25, 2018 A Brief Overview of Holy Week There are usually five – in some cases, six – days during Holy Week that are specifically commemorated, beginning with Palm Sunday (this Sunday), which commemorates Jesus’s paradoxical Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. (John 12:12-19). Although not as common, some set-apart the following Wednesday as ‘Silent Wednesday;’ a day traditionally viewed as a … More A Brief Overview of Holy Week
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the word ‘catastrophic’ these last several days, specifically related to the imminent flooding that’s expected to begin today and persist over the coming days, starting on the NC/SC coastline. While Hurricane Florence has weakened over the last 24 hours, forecasters, state and local officials, emergency responders, and disaster response … More When Storms Approach
