It’s been five years since I read Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. Stanley and Jones propose a model for preaching one-point sermons. I embraced the approach immediately. I preached my first one-point sermon right after I started reading the book (I had completed the first two chapters, as I recall).… Continue Reading »
Earlier this year, I wrote about 15 Books That Have Shaped Me as a Leader. In posting the list, I realized there were a few books that I’ve never blogged about. One of them is Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. Few people inspire, challenge, motivate me like Bill Hybels, whether through his speaking or his… Continue Reading »
A couple of months ago, I listed some resources by Christian comedian and communicator, Ken Davis, in my post, Developing the Preaching Gift. Davis wrote Secrets of Dynamic Communication. He also offers CD and DVD sets from his 4-day Dynamic Communicators Workshops (DCW). Davis has developed a process he calls S.C.O.R.R.E. (Subject, Central Theme, Objective,… Continue Reading »
Almost exactly two years, at the outset of our second year here in Clearfield, I wrote a prayer in my journal. Little did I know at the time that that prayer would stick with me. I find myself going back to it every now and then. Now as we begin our fourth year here in… Continue Reading »
Last Friday, we took a trip to the East Broad Top Railroad to spend a day out with Thomas. It was a nice day. It was also our second day out with Thomas. Our first day out with Thomas took place in December 2009, shortly after we brought Sarah home from Korea. That trip took… Continue Reading »
One of the highlights at this year’s annual conference was Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR). Adam led three presentations, which you can watch online from links at the conference website. We attended COR’s Leadership Institute in 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed it (see post here). Here are some… Continue Reading »
A few weeks ago, we completed a long journey when we were ordained in the UMC. Now that we’ve had some time for it to sink in, we can start thinking about life beyond “the process” (i.e., the ordination process). For many years, the process has been such a central part of our lives. In… Continue Reading »
West Side UMC was blessed to host a concert by the Alleluia Singers from Towson UMC, Towson Maryland. The Alleluia Singers is composed of a talented group of middle school and high school students. As part of a tour that took them through our area, they presented a program of music and drama, creatively entitled,… Continue Reading »
Joleen and I met in 1992. We were both students at the Church of God Theological Seminary, following God and preparing for God’s call on our lives. We began dating at the end of 1992 and were married in January 1994. Before we committed to marriage, though, we talked about what it would look like… Continue Reading »
In the days and weeks leading up to last Saturday’s Ordination Service, I prayed for a “double portion” of God’s Spirit (a reference to Elisha’s request at the anticipated exit of Elijah). It’s also a play on words, a celebration of the fact that both of us were ordained! Last Saturday, we were ordained elders… Continue Reading »