A New Chapter

Yesterday our family began a new chapter in our lives. We began serving with Beulah Baptist Church in Benson, NC. We were welcomed with warm handshakes and hugs and all kinds of balloons floating in my study at the church building. I think it was the youth group's idea with a little help from some "adult" friends. Ha, ha.

While we will treasure the times and friendships from the previous chapter of our life journey with First Baptist Church, Thomasville, we are looking forward to what God is going to do as we partner together in the gospel and for the gospel mission with Beulah Baptist Church.

It is time of "new beginnings" for the next leg of our Christian journey.

Let's do this...

Blogscoop - July 7, 2014

Symptoms of a Dysfunctional Church

21 Things You May Not Know about Your Pastor - maybe not all of them, but it's a pretty good list

10 Last Gasps of a Dying Church - this is an interesting perspective

How to Deal with a Preacher-Eater - oh my...

6 Subtle Signs Your Church is Dying - a few more things to add to the conversation concerning church health

Surviving a Near-Death Experience...for a church

When the Transgender Issue Comes Home

3 Reasons You Should Not Try to Bind Satan - this is pretty good

Blogscoop on July 1, 2014

Sin and the Work of the Holy Spirit

Hobby Lobby Decision

9 Things to Know About Anglicanism

5 Mentoring Lessons from Beverlee  - Lessons for us all to learn in this post

Biblical Response to Homosexuality, part 1 - Dr. Sam Williams was one of my professors in seminary, so I highly recommend this article and the parts that follow as well

Biblical Response to Homosexuality, part 2

Late Night Rain, Morning Run, a Sunrise, and 3 Rescues

I went out for a longer run this morning. I knew it was going to be a better run today because I remember waking up to some sprinkling of rain drops once during the night. That meant cooler temperatures for the run, and I was right, a cool breeze all along the flat road.

And, then came the sunrise. I was listening to Pandora on my run, and just as soon as I turned off Lyman Rd. onto Fountaintown Rd, over my shoulder I could see the sunrise. And, at that moment, the first verse of 10,000 Reasons began to play: "The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, it's time to sing your song again."

Lamentations 3:21-26 has come to mind in the moments since the run.

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

The "salvation" of the Lord, the rescue of our souls from the wrath that is to come. There were two rescues along the run today. Two turtles would have most certainly found death, but I helped them get to the other side of the road. But, the greatest rescue was my own salvation when Jesus died on a cross in my place and for my sins. That's the third rescue and the most important. While that rescue took place over 30 years ago, the reality of its truth is new every morning, especially this morning.

That is the "faithfulness of God"---"it's time to sing his song again."

As mama would often say, "Praise the Lord and bless his good name".

What's the Blog Scoop on May 14, 2014

Pastor-Scholar

"Flip it Forward"

I'm sorry I let you down - more church members should read this

Millennials and print media

Bored with the Bible in Worship - And, we wonder why so many churches and Christians are spiritually anemic.

Same-sex attraction in the church