Victor OR Victim: Which One Are You?

Victors take responsibility for their mistakes. Victims blame others for their mistakes. Victors receive correction as a teaching moment. Victims take correction as a personal attack. Victors let go of offenses. Victims horde their offenses and take on others offenses as well. Victors refuse to be defined by their failures. Victims refuse to see anything […]

Wasps in a Bush: A Modern Day Parable

Around the start of August a man went out on his porch to survey his property and assess the work that needed to be done that day. The summer had been a wet and hot one so several weeks had passed between the times the man was able to do yard maintenance. The grass was […]

Doctrinal Sandcastles

American Churches, and more specifically, American Pastors have a growing theological problem. No longer the more vocal, and more publicly visible pastors standing on a theology built upon The Rock, but they are sliding further and further toward the beach and beginning to build their theology upon a foundation of sand. A foundation easily shifted by […]

10 Dangers of Neglecting to Gather with the Local Church Body

Right now, in Podunk small town America, aka Cottageville, SC…it is 90 degrees with 54% humidity. According to weather.com it actually feels like 99 degrees with the heat index thrown in there for good measure. For the last couple of weeks it has poured ridiculous amounts of rain on my 1.5 acres here in Cottageville, […]

I Am Not the Church

How often have you heard someone, when asked “Who is the Church” would respond with a quick, “I am the Church!”? I know I’ve heard it….a lot. In fact, I’d dare say I’ve probably said it a time or two myself. And unfortunately, it’s just not an accurate or biblical statement to make. Don’t misunderstand […]

25 Aspects of Worshiping God

As a worship leader, my desire is to see the church (universal) understand what worship is and actually put it into practice. Sadly there are many voices convoluting and confusing the discussion with equating personal preference with scripture. They may not be actually saying it with their lips, but their actions and attitudes clearly demonstrate […]

Father’s Day for the Fatherless – Part 2

Last year at this time (Father’s Day) I wrote the following article as I was working through my first Father’s Day more-or-less devoid of a father (he’s still alive, just read the article and you’ll figure out what I mean): Father’s Day for the Fatherless. It’s been a year now. I’m now on to my […]

When Correction Becomes a Memorial

We’ve all been there…someone in authority over us comes to us and lets us know that they need to talk to us privately. Then, we get to the closed door room and we are confronted with something we may have said or done that is needing to be corrected. I know I’ve been there COUNTLESS times […]

Bumper Sticker Christianity

No doubt you’ve seen them. You’ve seen the cars with the “Christianese” catchphrase bumper stickers on them…or the “Jesus Fish” or the crosses….or even the bumper sticker for a local church plastered on a car…and the rare car that has all of the above plus some. And it also just so happens that the driver […]

Spiritual Authority: This is My Story

I have not always understood what spiritual authority is…nor did I probably even care for a long time. Nor am I claiming to understand it completely now, but I’m definitely farther along than I was. And to understand where I am now, you have to understand where I was and how I got here. It […]