Reaching Out

In my message Sunday morning, I started off by telling a bad joke, so I'll spare you that this time.  Instead I want to start with a question.  When we reach out to others, to help them in some way, what makes what we do as Christians different from what other people do?

Reaching In

I one time heard a comedian, or a speaker of some sort make a comment that has stuck with me over the years.  He made a great observation.  What happens when we meet someone on the sidewalk, in a room, in a meeting, at work, in the mall, etc?  We say hi or hello (in my case howdy) and then its probably followed by a question.  How are you?  How ya doing?  When that question is asked, what is the response that we get?

Reaching Up

This is the second post in a series on small groups that takes us into a place to see God at work, and God calling us to be in small groups.  One of the most important things we do is to reach up to God.  If we aren't reaching up, then our life, and our faith becomes much harder.

The Holy Club

Our Methodist heritage starts with John Wesley.  However, our heritage also starts with something else.  It also starts with an acknowledgment that we aren't always going to be very good at something, no matter how hard we try at it.

And God Rested

I'm not normally someone who is a big beach person, but the view from that hammock feels like it would a very resting place, and some place that would be great to vacation on.  What was your last vacation?  I remember a story that someone told me about a vacation to a place very similar to this.

Ask Away

Yesterday I did my first question Sunday in Marceline!  It was a lot of fun, and I enjoy getting questions and finding answers.  I'll admit that I'm probably a little crazy for doing it, but its challenging for me, and over the years I've found that folks have questions that aren't always going to get answered through the normal course of my preaching.

Growing Up

Growing up isn't easy.  If you've ever tried it, and most of us probably have (even if I try to avoid it regularly), then you know that it isn't easy.  There are all sorts of things that get in the way and challenge us as we go try to go forward.

The Cringeworthy Judge

The story of Samson is a crazy, and mostly confused story.  The confusion doesn't come from the story, but its interpretation over the years.  Samson has been treated as some sort of tragic hero that was ultimately persecuted for his beliefs.

That isn't really the story.

5yr Old and a Puddle

I love the story of Noah's Ark.  There is no more quintessential children's story in scripture than Noah.  It's a story that I think is a lot of fun.  When I did this on Sunday morning, I wanted to know what everyone knows about this story.  So I gave them a little quiz.  You can see the questions below, and I'll add a little explanation to them.

Little Big Man

There are many stories that we learned as kids that we can still tell today.  For those of us who grew up in the church, we probably learned them at Vacation Bible School.  There are many stories that I learned there, and still enjoy today.  That being said, as adults we need to come back to those same stories and take a look at them with new eyes. 

Go Therefore

Over the past few Sundays, I've been preaching on things that help folks get to know me as a pastor and a preacher.  The first Sunday we started with Moses' journey as he was figuring out who God wanted him to be, and that God was going to be with him through the journey.  Three Sundays ago we talked about how God calls us to help the L's, the folks that are in need of care and support.  Two weeks ago we talked about one of my favorite Bible verses, John 8:32 and how I think it is about one of the most important gifts that Jesus gives to us.

Free Indeed

This is one of my favorite Bible verses of all time.  It's my favorite, but with a back story.  I wasn't always going to be a preacher.  In fact, it wasn't even in my top three of what I wanted to do with my life.  But, with the help of parents, and my home pastor, and a lot of prayer and listening, I finally said yes.  Saying yes, and knowing what you're getting into, are two very different things. 

The L's

There are many times in scripture, when there are places that grab our attention. It's one of the joys of reading scripture.  It doesn't matter how many times you read it, there is always something new.  We can read the same story, over and over again, and each time we read it, there is something different that we take out of it.