Tuckpointing as a spiritual investment

In Joshua 24:13, God declares to the Israelites: “You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.” The Israelites had moved into the Promised Land and were embarking on a new phase of their journey as the people of God when God reminds them...

The gift of children in the pews

There were A LOT of children in worship that day.   Some of them were singing with the children’s choir.   Some of them were leading prayers.   Some of them were processing in the light, the bible, the cup, and the bread.   Some of them were munching doughnuts with...

In this Lenten season

As I sat at the dining room table, wondering what to write, I saw a sketch sitting there. It reminded me of a passage I read a few weeks ago that continues to come to mind, one that I continue to wonder over, particularly in this Lenten season. “The earth is the...

Through the lens of Pastoral Care

I recently discovered that my name tag says Associate Pastor for Pastor Care.  Apparently “al” would not fit. As many of you are aware, we have had a fair number of funerals over the past few weeks.  Each one matters, each family and everyone who walks...

What Shall We Give Up, and What Shall We Add?

Last Wednesday we started the liturgical season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The season of Lent in the church is a time when we focus on this call to return to the Lord. It is a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the...

Overview of Lent

King cakes, pancakes, roses, chocolates, and ashes – it is going to be a full week!  This Wednesday we begin the season of Lent, the six weeks of penitence in which we reflect on Christ’s life and Christ’s death.  During this time, we prayerfully prepare for the...

Just Checking In

Perhaps among all the news stories about all the challenging things our community, nation and world are facing, you saw the story about Elmo.  Yes, Elmo, now it has been a minute or two since our daughters were watching Sesame Street, but this last week Elmo asked a...

Seeing God’s church and our discipleship

After attending the Greensboro MLK breakfast two weeks ago, I got on a plane to Atlanta to attend the first-ever Matthew 25 Summit. The Summit was a gathering of pastors and church members seeking to learn more about how to put into practice the teachings of Jesus to...

When we most need to pray

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Capital campaign and Lent and 200th plans, oh my!  Shetler discernment and worship and women’s retreat, oh my!  Hunger ministries and Christian formation and preschool, oh my! Maybe it is just me, but sometimes when there are a lot...

Give Some of Your Time

The mountains of North Carolina are a special place, especially Montreat. It’s a thin place where it feels as if heaven and earth meet; a place to be in God’s beautiful creation, a place of memory for me and so many of you all. The first week of January was a special...