Can You Quantify Faith?

April 6, 2007

Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist, wants to track and quantify the way our brains process spirituality. He basically wants to know if we were created to believe in God. And his research is out to prove this hard-wiring of the brain scientifically. It’s all part of a new field called neurotheology. While it’s not a class that I have seen on the course schedule at the seminary I attend, I would be tempted to take it if it were. It isn’t too much of a stretch to think that God created our brains Read more [...]

Christ is Still Alive

April 4, 2007

This last Sunday a young girl, Jen, accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. After the service her mother told me that Jen kept saying during the invitation that she was going forward and wanted her mom to go with her. Her mom, who had been sharing Christ with her, did not want her to go forward because her father was not there with them. Jen kept begging her mom, but her mom said to wait. Jen finally blurted, “If you’re not going with me, then I’m going down front to the pastor by Read more [...]

I Pity the Fool

April 2, 2007

As many of you have already experienced, today is April Fool’s Day. And luckily for this pastor, it fell on a Sunday. My associate pastor of students decided to take advantage of this happenstance, using it as an opportunity to play a practical joke on the entire church body during the Sunday morning worship service. During our welcome time he got up to make an announcement. “It is a joyous time this Easter season, and I want everyone to know today on this Palm Sunday that Becky and I are expecting.” The Read more [...]

The God Infusion

March 31, 2007

The book caught my eye. When I am in the local bookstore, I often check out the best-sellers shelf. Not only do I look for something that I might want to read, I want to know what everyone else is reading as well. The book I saw concerned me. It had a quasi-shiny silver cover with a simple, unambiguous title. Written by Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion details the rants and raves of a militant atheist against organized religion. It was one that I really didn’t want to read. But I felt obligated Read more [...]

Praying in a Zero-Sum World

March 28, 2007

God will humble you in an extraordinary ways. He can take your worldly trophies and smash them to dust. My pride crumbles more in nursing homes than in any other place. As a pastor I try to visit from time to time church members who no longer can take good care of themselves. I have a few people in my church spiritually gifted with encouragement, and they usually accompany me. I recently stopped by a couple of nursing homes with Tom. I always balk at the outside door, pausing to look and the green Read more [...]

The Right Now Plan

March 25, 2007

My wife and I are fundamentally different. Insightful to you all, yes I know. But beyond the obvious differences, we think differently. Nowhere is this difference more obvious than in our car rides together. I’m usually driving because I’m a control freak. She’s gracious enough to let me – given our driving records (hers is impeccable; mine pushes the envelope of being insurable), she should probably be the one behind the wheel. While driving we have these long periods of silence as both Read more [...]

The Simple Easter Idea that Worked

March 20, 2007

I must reluctantly admit that my associate pastor is a genius. Since he is a University of Tennessee fan (his office is a hideous and unsanctified shade of orange), it pains me to say it. But he truly is a man of great ideas. At our staff meeting a couple of weeks ago, I was making the challenge that we needed a big victory for our Easter Service. We were trying to figure out the best way to reach not only the Christmas and Easter crowd, but also those in our community who never step foot inside Read more [...]

The Crisis Point

March 16, 2007

My little brother is getting married in June. In fact, there are three brothers in the family and all of us will have gotten married within 12 months of each other. Art was married last June. I was married in December. Jess, the baby, is the last to go this June. Honestly, it’s kinda weird to see my littlest brother grow up. My brothers and I look somewhat alike, but we all have very different personalities. I can be a bit more controlling. Art is more laid back. And Jess is a bit more daring. Read more [...]

To Go Door-to-Door or Not?

March 13, 2007

I had something happen to me for the first time since being at my church. I was out visiting some folks, and I came to the last person on my list. This person was a prospect and I had not called beforehand, but I figured I would stop by and say hello. We keep contact with those that are interested in our church. And we take notes on a prospect sheet that enable us as a church to know how much and when we contact them. The last note from a few months back said they were friendly and open to hearing Read more [...]

Finding Jesus

March 9, 2007

My wife came home discouraged today. I was somewhat worried when she said that she needed to talk. Luckily, I was not culpable for her saddened state. But what she said did dampen my spirits. She had overheard a conversation at school between two teachers. They were discussing the documentary on the Jesus Tomb. Aired on the Discovery Channel this week, it ‘revealed’ that Jesus’ bones had been discovered. Erin and I had watched it together, and we quickly picked apart some of the contradictions. Read more [...]