1. What is a tithe? A tithe means literally “a tenth.” The tithe was ten percent of whatever was made or produced,; it was the first ten percent and it always belonged to the Lord. (By the way, Jesus reaffirmed the tithe in his own teaching! Matthew 23:23, for those who say that tithing is Old Testament.) […]
A Peek Inside Sermon Planning
One of the great challenges of pastoral ministry is the answer to this question: what should I preach next? It’s not quite as simple as you might think. I try to bathe the process in prayer, asking the Lord what our congregation needs to hear from His Spirit through His Word. I prefer to preach […]
An Innocent Man
Imagine returning home from work one day to find your world completely shattered. Michael Morton doesn’t have to imagine. When he left for his office one day in August 1986, his wife and son were still asleep after a late-night birthday celebration. Michael returned that afternoon to a home encircled by police tape and discovered that he […]
I Was Embarrassed!
The other day, Cyndi was in the attic looking for pictures, and she came across letters from the early months of our courting. She was living in Detroit at the time—training with Northwest Airlines—and later in Boston where she was based. I was in the first year of my ministry at Chapel Hill. “Let’s read […]
Understanding Islam
What do you think when you hear the word, “Muslim?” Perhaps the horrific images from Paris or San Bernadino come to mind. Or the unrest in Israel. Perhaps the videos of an angry Mullah or of Isis fighters beheading Christians on a beach. I understand. This is a year when these unsettling images have dominated […]
Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day, everyone. I know… we don’t celebrate that very-English holiday, but it seems appropriate, particularly since we have our very own English folk on staff. Historically in England, December 26 was devoted to the servants and workers who made Christmas delightful for their employers and others. In other words, everyone who worked hard […]
Christmas Music
One of the best things about Christmas is the music. Last night, I sat down at my piano and played through every Christmas carol in the hymnal… twice! (I particularly enjoyed a boogie-woogie version of Go Tell It On the Mountain, a rendition the original writers never imagined, I’m sure!) If you love Christmas music, […]
A Gloom Over the City of Light
On August 8, 2014, Cyndi and I boarded the Eurostar train for a high-speed trip through the Chunnel to Gare du Nord for the beginning of our Silver Wedding Anniversary adventure in Paris. We walked for miles and miles through (and past) countless museums, beautiful parks and hundreds of café bistros filled with lovers, friends […]
Our Own Chapel Hill War Hero
Each Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day at Chapel Hill, we honor those who have served our country and pray for our servicemen and women, as well as our nation’s leaders. With the presentation of the Colors this Sunday, we will honor a World War II veteran and one of our own Chapel Hill members—Ray Payne. […]
Sad Family News
Early Thursday morning I received a call telling me that Malinda Thomas, wife of our dear guitarist Dave Thomas and mother to Jordan and Dylan, had died suddenly in the night. As I write this, we await news about the cause and, of course, are rallying around this beloved family as only the Body of […]