Cyndi and I are settling into our new home. After six months of remodeling, we are down to a few vent covers, a stair runner, and a few paint daubs before we are done with phase 1… the first of, I am guessing, 39 phases! (Wowza, I’ve only been out of the home-owning business for […]
We say goodbye to a worship leader
My dear Chapel Hill family, Sadly I share with you the news that our wonderful modern worship leader, James Roberson, will be concluding his service to us. And you might be surprised to discover why: he is firing himself! Let me explain. James has a full-time job working as a crane inspector at the Bremerton […]
A Titan Falls
Yesterday, it was Don Lee who brought me the news: “Did you hear that Billy Graham died today?” A few months shy of his 100th birthday, Billy’s death will resonate among both the religious and the irreligious communities in a way that perhaps no other can or ever will. I heard Reverend Graham in person […]
Something’s stirring!
I’m not sure why, but this weekend we will host one of the largest First Step classes in many years. First Step is our membership class. We call it that because we truly see it as a “first step” in our journey of disciple-making. It is pretty simple. We will meet at noon in the […]
What an incredible weekend we shared!
Dear friends, It’s Sunday afternoon, January 7. I usually write to you on Thursday, but I’m still so pumped about what the Lord did this weekend, I have to capture it now. And you might even be reading this on Wednesday for reasons you will see below. In case you missed it (and if you […]
Apparently one of our best ideas!
Every second week of January I meet with the pastors of the largest churches in our denomination. One of our “sessions” is the sharing of best ideas; one new, creative thing we do that might be worth “stealing” by others! A few years back, I shared how we do renewal of baptismal vows on the […]
So THAT’S what Advent is supposed to feel like!
My inbox was jammed full Tuesday morning! After the wonderful early morning newsflash telling you all that Ellis and Rachel’s visa had been approved, your notes of praise, delight, relief…they all came flooding in. My poor email program must have had the digital equivalent of sore muscles after a hard workout! It was so fun […]
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Catching a glimpse of the real Christmas
As many of you know, Cyndi and I bought a house last summer. It is a 1967 split-level that hasn’t been touched since it was built…including the original avocado green wool carpet! Even though we acquired it in August, we have not yet moved in because there is so much to be done…and we are […]
Advent Potpourri
OK, I am sheepishly now going to admit something to you: I got Advent wrong! Usually, the first Sunday in Advent falls after Thanksgiving and we went about our sermon planning and prep as if that were so. Only it wasn’t! We were early by one week. You’d think a “religious professional” would get that […]
A family away from home
It is perhaps ironic, certainly providential (we are Presbyterian after all), that this Thanksgiving weekend also marks the beginning of Advent, our month-long celebration in anticipation of the coming of Christ. Ironic/providential in that it is also a story of a young family unexpectedly compelled by their government to be away from their home in […]