It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters — “If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment … Read More
Q Zone: Just What is Fruit?
As we delved further into Matthew 13 last week, concluding that fruit is the acid test of a true root, the obvious question is glaring: Just what exactly is the fruit that our lives yield? Believe it or not, this was precisely the question texted … Read More
Rearview Mirror: On Planting a Church #4
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters — “If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment … Read More
Sunday Rewind: Quotes and Quips from My Lips
Because many requested a “repeat” of some of my comments from the last two weeks, here are the quotes and quips” from my 2-part message on the parable of the sower, seed, and soils that seem to be either most requested or most provocative. For context … Read More
Q Zone: Where’s the Line?
It’s true — the thorny ground is the ground where life’s “busyness” chokes out the seed’s fruitfulness (Matthew 13). Called the “cares of this life” by one Gospel writer, the “pleasures” of life by another, and the “deceitfulness of riches” by still another, the clear … Read More
Rearview Mirror: On Planting a Church #3
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters — “If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment … Read More
What I Was Seeing When I Was Sawing
Snap. Pop. Crack. Timb-u-u-u-r! That’s what I was hearing the other day as branches piled up around me. (Okay, maybe not the timb-u-u-u-r part, but it does add to the effect, eh?) And what a pile it was! Ironically, when I first began cutting and … Read More
Q Zone: Perplexed by the Parables?
Last Sunday we began our summer series (“Like: Jesus’ Words About the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew”), a 12-week look at some of the parables Jesus told. My goal in week #1? Lay the groundwork! We did this by examining the text … Read More
Rearview Mirror: On Planting a Church #2
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters — “If you had to do it over again, what would you do — or not do — differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview … Read More
At Least the Word Won’t Wither
As if it’s not enough that I have a witchy tree in my front lawn (see May 14 blog), the lawn itself seems to be withering away, too. Just take a look at the spotty situation. Can you say receeding grass line? A brief bit … Read More