Personal opinion: the church has screwed up discipleship. And I don’t mean a little bit either. For years, probably even decades, we’ve treated discipleship and evangelism like two separate programs, as if you can have one without the other. Guess what: you can’t. True discipleship requires evangelism. It’s not a side dish on an a…
In far too many churches today, comfort and tradition have become king. We’ve polished the pews, crafted predictable schedules, and formed tight-knit circles where everyone knows the routine. Even our creative expressions have become a routine of their own. We cherish our sacred rituals, passed down through generations, but somewhere along the way, we have…
Let’s get something straight right out the gate. You’re not better than the person who sins differently than you. That might sound harsh, but it’s something the church desperately needs to hear. Too often, we Christians act like we’ve mastered righteousness, but in reality, we’re just expert finger-pointers. We throw around phrases like “hate the…
I recently read a book titled How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins. It looks at some of the nations significant corporations, past and present, and evaluates the rise and fall of many of them. He overlays five stages of this falling process. I believe there is something in this book for us as individuals…
Ok so hard truth we may not like to hear. Christians are really good at judging each other. I’m not talking about some polite “maybe you should rethink that” kind of critique. No, I’m talking about the deep-seated, “I’m holier than you” attitude that seeps into Christian relationships. That’s exactly what Paul was tackling in…
Let’s talk veggies and bacon—two foods that couldn’t be more different. On one side, you’ve got your veggie lovers. They stick to the kale, spinach, and broccoli, probably starting their day with the one of those green smoothies, and wouldn’t dare put bacon anywhere near their salad. On the other hand, there are the bacon…
Historically this was one of my favorite days. It was still a bit eerie but stands out as quite the amazing day nonetheless. The skies were still empty. Life still was standing still for the most part. Businesses were closed in some sectors of the country. Schools weren’t sure if they should open or close….
The pictures are everywhere today. Photoshopped images with super imposed phrases. Never forget. We will always remember. If only we remembered. In the moment it was devastating. I will certainly remember forever where I was. I’ll remember as I heard the first airplanes go overhead. Fighter jets scrambled from the local airport. It’s not something…
In today’s church landscape, there’s a tendency to equate a church’s health with its size. Bigger is better, right? More people in the pews, a larger budget, and a grandiose building are often seen as signs of a thriving church. But is this really the case? Can a small church be just as healthy, impactful,…
My plane arrived in Baltimore on a Saturday evening. I had a small enough window of time to make my connection for my flight home that I was a little concerned about the distance I had to travel to my new gate. As soon as I deplaned, I made my way into the concourse and…
