A reflection on Lent through Isaiah 58 At the time of this particular entry, Lent is just a few days away. Lent is one of the five major seasons observed historically in many liturgical church traditions (by ‘liturgical,’ I mean more structured, perhaps scripted and antiquated styles of worship or tradition) ; it is preceded … More An Acceptable Fast
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
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
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
[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
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.”
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
