What Does it Mean to Serve in Worship? Our church, Peachtree City United Methodist Church, is an amazing group of people. When we look at the number and variety of activities and programs that we host, present, or attend each week, it is truly astonishing. People come in and out of our facilities, traveling across and through our campus morning, …
Many years ago, when I was considering a call to vocational ministry as a pastor, I encountered an idea I’ve never forgotten: We often discover God’s calling in the interplay between what needs to be done and what we were created to do. What needs in the world do you have an opportunity to address? What gifts within you are …
Do you ever wonder if you’ve gotten so lost that you can’t find your way home? If you’ve messed up so badly that things can’t be made right? If you’ve gone too far to ever really be forgiven? Maybe you fear that you’ve offended God so deeply that you can’t be loved anymore. Maybe you worry that your relationship with …
I haven’t found “the key” to living a faithful Christian life. After 48 years of following Jesus, I still discover regularly how much further I have to go and how much room I have left to grow. Following Jesus is something young children and wizened saints can both do. Christian faith is not complicated, but it is complex. It doesn’t …
Never underestimate the power of a personal invitation. The opening chapter of John’s Gospel tells a wonderful story about invitations. One day, John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples when Jesus walked by. John looked at Jesus and said, “There he is, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard this, and naturally, they began following Jesus. …
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” The quotation is often attributed to Mark Twain, although no one seems able to confirm that he actually said it. Ironically, that makes the quotation a pretty good illustration of its own point. This is especially true when it …
One of the most important principles of reading the Bible is surprisingly simple. The Bible was written for us, but it was not written to us. That may sound like a contradiction, but I believe it’s one of the healthiest habits we can develop as followers of Jesus. Every book of the Bible was written by real people, to real people, living in real …
I’ll let you in on a little secret. If you’ve never quite known what to do with the book of Revelation, you’re in good company. For nearly two thousand years, thoughtful, faithful Christians have wrestled with its strange imagery, vivid symbolism, and unforgettable visions. Some have found it fascinating. Others have found it frustrating. Many have simply avoided it, figuring …
If you were with us for our recent Route 66 journey through the Wisdom Books of the Bible, you may have noticed that we skipped one book: Lamentations. That wasn’t because it’s unimportant. Quite the opposite. It deserves its own conversation. The Book of Lamentations was written in the aftermath of one of the darkest moments in Israel’s history. Jerusalem …
For Our Neighbors There are moments when the news feels very far away. We see images of disasters, wars, and tragedies unfolding around the world, and it’s easy to think of them as events happening to “someone else.” But every now and then, we’re reminded they aren’t. The recent earthquakes in Venezuela have brought heartbreaking loss. Homes. Schools. Businesses. Lives. …
