Twelve years ago, I shared with our elders what I believed to be the three priorities for our coming decade. Not that we didn’t have other things to attend to, but these three would be our particular focus. I called them the “3 Ds”: denomination, debt, and discipleship. First, denomination. We were increasingly aware that […]
Fret not
I “rediscovered” a psalm recently: Psalm 37. Of course, I’ve read it countless times over the years, but somehow, it jumped out at me. I’m calling it the “Don’t fret” psalm. Pull it out and read it. David encourages the reader three times in the first eight verses, “Fret not yourself.” “Fret not yourself because […]
Accountability in action
Presbyterian. Perhaps the most misspelled and least understood of denominational names. I’ve mentioned this before, but if you were to choose a recognizable, intuitive, trendy name for a church, “Presbyterian” would likely not make the short list. Although we may not LEAD with “Presbyterian,” your “Session” (the board of elders—another inscrutable word!) has chosen to […]
Hold on tight!
As I write this in the wee hours of September 14, I realize I am commencing this day my 36th year of ministry at Chapel Hill, a gift for which I will be eternally grateful. There is a wonderful and frenetic energy to Septembers around here as we launch another program year unhindered by the specter […]
Launching Luke
OK…here’s a little quiz. If you had to choose your favorite parable from Jesus, what would it be? How about your top two? Got them in mind? Now, magically, I will read your mind: The Prodigal Son…and the Good Samaritan. How’d I do? Even irreligious people have heard the stories of the Prodigal Son and […]
You’ve got this!
It was a communion Sunday. People were coming forward to receive the sacrament. I noticed one man in the line who surprised me. Because as far as I knew, he was not a Christian. He’d come to our membership class. He had been reading the Bible. But he was still an explorer. Or so I […]
Keeping Chapel Hill safe
A large part of our most recent Session meeting (the gathering of our Elders) was a conversation about security. I’m sure I don’t need to explain why this issue is near the top (or SHOULD be near the top) of every church leader’s agenda. On the list of “things we never learned in seminary,” I’d […]
Cyndi’s putting
Last Sunday Cyndi and I went to a BBQ that was held to say farewell to John Roberts, one of our dear and faithful volunteers, who is relocating to the land of Micky Mouse and alligators. The host family has a large putting green in their backyard with five holes. Tim, the homeowner, told us […]
How high can you climb?
Continuing the theme of yardwork from my last blog, this Monday was rhody and tree-trimming time. At one point, I was on a step ladder…with an 18-foot extension lopper…taking off branches that intrude over my roof. I mentioned this to a friend, who is about my age, who also still climbs ladders. He told me […]
Leafy and lifeless
It just kept getting lower and lower. We had an apple tree that I could see out our kitchen window. But I noticed its branches seemed to be getting lower and lower. I was surprised that it seemed to be sprouting so many new, leafy branches because, frankly, it is an awful tree. It produced […]