I really like Silver Dollar City. It is a regional amusement park just outside of Branson. For many years, it was my privilege to serve a great church in the area, and thus, I found myself at the park quite often. As you know, the word “amusement” is based on the word “muse” or to think. Often times an “a” in front of a word reverses its meaning. So, an amusement park is a place where you go “not to think.” As a pastor, sometimes we need to go to places where we don’t think—just to visit, … [Read more...]
Uncertainty: ‘It sounds a whole lot like 2020’
Uncertainty – “Epistemic situations involving imperfect or unknown information. It applies to predictions of future events, to physical measurements that are already made, or to the unknown.” In other words, uncertainty is not knowing what will happen or not being sure what you think you do is really so. It sounds a whole lot like 2020, doesn’t it? I always thought there was going to be toilet paper at Wal-Mart, for instance. (One meme I saw had a grandpa telling his grandchildren that … [Read more...]
Giving for ministry
I have had lots of dreams. I bet you have too. A few of them have come true, like marrying that beautiful girl I saw from a distance on my first day of college; or pastoring a great church and seeing the Lord bless it. Some dreams, well I have matured past, like that “Unanswered Prayers” song. Others have crashed and burned despite my best efforts. But, this past Saturday, one of my long lost dreams, one I had abandoned a long, long time ago, came true. At least kind of. On September 26, … [Read more...]
Bringing Kingdom relief
It was hot. Now not any hotter than normal for late July in Missouri. It was only 97 degrees, well within expected ranges. But it felt unusually hot because as we drove across Missouri the vehicle in which I was driving no longer “conditioned” air. You see the day before, I harvested my first deer. I was on vacation in Colorado, and while I had planned on fly fishing (caught six my first time out, not bad I thought) I had not planned on going deer hunting. A 2017 Toyota Highlander is … [Read more...]
Give dads, pastors a break
According to a Learn Vest Survey, Americans spend 10% of their income on vacation. Let that sink in. At first, when I saw that number, I felt a little deprived, as I did not spend near that much money on vacation pre-COVID, and I am sure not planning on spending that much money post-COVID. But, on further thought, I reasoned that while most Americans can probably not afford to spend that much money, it may be a whole lot easier to do so if you are not tithing. (In the same survey 74% … [Read more...]
Unsung heroes
There has been much written about heroes lately, as well as there should be. Doctors, nurses, first responders, and all of those who run “toward” what the rest of us are running “from” must surely be commended and celebrated. They deserve every accolade imaginable, along with those who protect our country through military service around the world. I invite you to reconsider the actual appearance of a hero. I tend to think of the young, strong, and energetic. While true, there is … [Read more...]
Greatest estate plan ever
I remember my first triathlon. Ok, it was my only triathlon. I wasn’t competing in it; I was a volunteer. I was leading a group of single adults from Council Road Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma in an effort to support the Lake Placid Baptist Church in New York as it provided volunteer coordination for the “Ironman Triathlon”. The church ministered by providing volunteers for the many sporting events in its small town,made famous when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1980--when we still … [Read more...]
Extra time on your hands?
Extra time on your hands? So, I imagine you have been spending a little more time at home as of late. Not getting out of the house as much for church, shopping, movies or dining? Yeah, me too. The days seem a little longer, the nights maybe even more so, and each day brings with it another round of closings of some previously scheduled, really important, events. (I write this on March 25th) I am beginning to wonder what will get cancelled next, the rapture? What are you doing with … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptist Foundation, LifeWay resources available to churches for online giving
EDITOR’S NOTE: Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) President Neil Franks is offering daily updates for MBF clients on the MBF Facebook and Twitter feeds. JEFFERSON CITY – As our global community navigates the personal and business implications of COVID-19, the Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) wishes to help Missouri Baptist churches. We want to serve your church’s needs while you are caring for the ministry needs of your congregation. Knowing that with the restrictions on sizable … [Read more...]
MBF, LifeWay resources available to churches for online giving
EDITOR'S NOTE: Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) President Neil Franks is offering daily updates for MBF clients on the MBF Facebook and Twitter feeds. As our global community navigates the personal and business implications of COVID-19, the Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) wishes to help Missouri Baptist churches. We want to serve your church’s needs while you are caring for the ministry needs of your congregation. Knowing that with the restrictions on sizable gatherings you will … [Read more...]
A new perspective on the ‘interim’ status
I just completed my very first interim pastorate. Well, I guess all of my pastorates have been interim, since I am no longer serving at any one of those churches. Come to think of it… I suppose all pastors are interim if you factor in enough time, and all church members too, including deacons. But, I think you know what I mean. I had the privilege of serving a local congregation during the “in between” time the church had a “permanent” pastor. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and I can … [Read more...]
Overcoming our thinkin’ problem
It has been said that country music is just “three chords and the truth.” Now I am not sure who “they” are, but I wholeheartedly agree. In all the opening lines of country music, David Ball’s 1994 song must sit at the top of the list for truth. The song begins, “Yes, I admit… (with the prototypical nasal tonality I might add) I’ve got a thinkin’ problem.” Mr. Ball hits upon the gravest of all problems, a thinkin’ problem. I was forced to review this problem recently while preparing a … [Read more...]