One of the great contradictions of Holy Week is it often comes just when the blooms are first appearing and the birds are singing as they busily build their nests. Yes, you say this is the reminder that out of death comes life, just like the Holy Week message. But that’s backwards, isn’t it? Aren’t …
It starts slowly. At first it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. It comes across as complimentary. They need you. They don’t know what they would do without you. They wait for you to make important decisions or even to get things started. Codependency is psychological state in which one party is dependent upon …
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This note fell out of my car yesterday. I found it in the parking lot as I was putting Ben back in the car and headed to Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship. It happened to fall into my path at a moment when I was thinking about the brief time I have with left with my Emmanuel …
As the news of my moving on from Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship in Lexington, SC has traveled, I have been confronted with even more people who want to know, “What’s next?” In our baptist tradition, we are used to pastors and ministers sharing with their congregations that they are moving on; however, when that news is …
Yesterday, I shared with Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship in Lexington, SC that we will be moving on after Easter. After a tearful reception following the morning service, the questions began to come in. Many of them were about whether we were moving or staying in the Columbia area. Most of them had the central theme of …
Philippians 3:17-4:1 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and …
Last night as a part of our Lenten series on discipleship, our congregants engaged in the privilege walk. We looked at each other differently as we each stepped forward or backward: Take one step backward if your race, gender, or sexual orientation has caused you to be looked over for a professional opportunity. Take one …
Yesterday, I recounted the question that had been pinballing in my mind since I was interviewed about the SC Primaries. The reporter I was talking to was from a European publication and was trying to understand the evangelical conservative movement, especially in SC. As I was explaining to the best of my ability what it …
There is a movement in the food industry to shop locally and buy food grown locally. In fact, there are whole restaurants dedicated and capitalizing on this movement. The idea is that by supporting local economy and locally grown food, sustainability within a community rises. In the context of church life, churches are looking at declining membership, …
I can understand why people don’t like the Lenten season. When I started attending a church where the Lenten season was observed, I wasn’t excited about my worship experiences during that time. Lent is dark and cold during a season of the year that’s dark and cold. The music is often ominous and dirge-like. Every …
