I typically think of Grace (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) as that which saves us. We don’t deserve to spend eternity in heaven, but because of grace, God sees Jesus when he looks at us instead of seeing our sin, and welcomes us into his kingdom. So far, so good. Yet if our understanding of Read the full article…

I never, never, NEVER tell “what-happened-to-the-preacher-on-the-plane” stories.    Just the fact that we’re able to jet off to conferences & preaching engagements seems so . . . pretentious.  And some of my clergy brethren and sistren (what did you want, cistern?) are oh-so-cavalier about tossing in a “while I was on a plane” anecdote. Except I Read the full article…

Have you noticed it has been hot this summer in the Carolinas? This year’s heat reminds me of my very first summer in Monroe, NC — 1990, that was — and of the times I’d look out my small office window and see red clay patches in the parsonage lawn. And when the heat & Read the full article…

When I was a little boy, we had some Arch Bible Books around our house. The one I remember most vividly was called Samson’s Secret. What is interesting to me now as an adult and as a pastor is the enormous gap between the Samson of Samson’s Secret and the Samson of the book of Read the full article…

Here’s what’s coming up over the next 72 hours:   Tonght:  5 p.m. Wedding Rehearsal 6 p.m. Rehearsal Dinner Hosting 9 p.m. Sibling Reunioning Tomorrow:  3:00  Wedding Photos 5:00 Wedding 6:30ish Reception Why so involved in a wedding? Because our son Riley marries Natalie Burke on Saturday, surrounded by friends and family. Here’s the couple. Read the full article…