We are privileged to have many successful business leaders in our congregation, and in the week prior to a sermon on leadership, we thought it would be great for us to hear from one of them in particular. Steve Maxwell is the husband of Kim, and the father of twins Nate & Brynna, who are […]
Wear RED this Sunday to Celebrate Pentecost!
Pentecost is a strange church holiday. Christmas we get. The baby Jesus, born in a manger, visited by shepherds and wise guys. Easter we get. The crucified Jesus raised from the dead. But Pentecost… a little strange. Acts 2 tells the story. The Jesus-Followers were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem (maybe the same […]
Read More… from Wear RED this Sunday to Celebrate Pentecost!
Shoveling Manure Against the Tide
Recently I wrote here about a resolution adopted by the Peninsula School District Board urging the Gig Harbor City Council to limit or restrict entirely retail marijuana outlets in the city of Gig Harbor. Because marijuana use among minors is higher than average in our area and because of the proven damaging effects of marijuana […]
The San Francisco Church Plant Launched!
I have to share with you a story from this week. Who was here when Troy Wilson, the San Francisco church planter was here at Chapel Hill? They just gathered for their first worship service two Sundays ago! They are calling their church The Table in recognition that everyone is welcome. Also, San Francisco people […]
Marijuana in Gig Harbor
We are all aware of the recent decision of our state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. It would not surprise you to hear that I think this is a foolish and destructive decision. And I suspect that the early, frightening reports coming out of Colorado of the damaging effects of easily-available marijuana are only the […]
Life Lessons from the Bar Cart
On this Thursday before Mother’s Day during a season when I am preaching on “work,” I thought I’d share with you some ramblings from our daughter, Rachel, who turned Cyndi into a mother and me into a father 21 years ago. She graduates next weekend from Whitworth and is headed to Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts […]
I Struck Another Nerve!
A few weeks back I blogged about our upcoming sermon series on the topic of work. The first half of the series will be called “Blue Collar God” and the second, “Undercover Boss.” I asked for your input on this topic and, wow, did I shake a tree! Obviously and understandably, you are interested. And […]
I Like My Church Quiet
The first thing we built after my arrival at Chapel Hill in 1987 was our gymnasium and Christian Education Wing. That wasn’t our original plan. It wasn’t long before we were worshiping in three services and considering a fourth. We needed a larger sanctuary and first drafted plans to expand the Memorial Chapel. But even […]
Team Devotions in Guatemala
The Guatemala GO-team met in the mornings before breakfast to share God’s word. We found the devotional time to be rich in grounding the team for the day and essential in guiding our actions. The focus of each day was perfect for us. Our devotion time began with Praise Songs and group prayer. Saturday, April 5: Phil […]
The Condemned’s Last Meal
Two years ago I heard the news of the death of Michael Clarke Duncan, the mountain of a man who played John Coffey, the strangely-gifted convict on death row in the superb movie, The Green Mile. That idea of “Death Row”—a gathering place of the condemned, the Green Mile, the last stretch of green linoleum leading to […]