Everyone Has a Story

Look around you right now. Go ahead…It’s o.k. Most likely, there is another person within view. Are they happy, sad, stressed, struggling, busy? No matter who they are or what they are feeling, wearing or doing, they have a story, a soul and something worth sharing. The interesting thing about people is that some are […]

Look around you right now. Go ahead…It’s o.k. Most likely, there is another person within view. Are they happy, sad, stressed, struggling, busy? No matter who they are or what they are feeling, wearing or doing, they have a story, a soul and something worth sharing. The interesting thing about people is that some are willing to share their story and some are not. Many are craving to be asked…so initiate the conversation. Ask them how they are doing. Ask them what the best and worst part of their day has been. Simply greet them and invite a simple conversation.
Over the past few days, we all have crossed paths with many people with different backgrounds, walks of life, beliefs, and struggles. My mom always told me growing up that if I am ever feeling down, do something nice for someone around me. I have put that to the test. I started with my family at home by asking what the best and worst part of your day has been…and we prayed for each other. In the past 72 hours, I have come in contact with people who are stressed as they have been awaiting test results that had the potential to be life threatening…So I prayed with them and even sang them a song. I found out that a true friend’s mom is very sick and they are trying to figure out a way to get home to see her…so I prayed with them and tried to offer an encouraging word. I greeted a family with two small children holding a poster that read, “need help, trying to get home.”…so I prayed with them and you helped get them home. I even spent 3 minutes with a cashier at Publix as she scanned my items. I simply said, “whoahhh, how did you get so good at that?” She thanked me for being kind to her, but her voice cracked. I asked if she was o.k. She has a story and a soul, too…so I prayed for her. She simply said, “Thank you and keep praying.”

Reflect Jesus in all you do.
Share His story of Hope.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

Kidmin 101

This past Sunday night, I shared five core values that our Children’s Ministry is founded on. These values are what helps keep each event, activity, and class in line with our overall mission. The core values are: 1. Know: Our children will learn to know God and the...

Faith On a Shelf

I have this hat that my dad brought back to me from a business trip to Atlanta when I was 9 or 10 years old. You can see that I’ve worn it a lot. In fact, I wore it to just about everywhere I went during the summer when I was a kid. Church camps, grandparents’ house,...

“Jesus Loves Me”

After being led in this song by two of our young men Sunday night, I was reminded of a quotation from Karl Barth. On April 23, 1962, Karl Barth (the renown 20th Century Swiss-German, neo-orthodox theologian) spoke at Rockefeller Chapel on the campus of the University...

That’s Not a Candle

Several years ago, there was story shared about a woman from Connecticut whose power had gone out during a storm. She left her house to go to a local hardware store to purchase some flashlights, but the store was closed. She returned home and found what she thought...

The Post-Christian Problem

I attended the New Day Conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the end of last week with a small group from Riverchase. It was a good conference and I left encouraged about the opportunities we have to fulfill the call of Christ to make disciples. On Friday evening,...

Josiah’s Reform

In the thirty-one years of his rule, King Josiah proved to be a faithful man of God and a great king of Judah. He served God from the beginning as a young king and grew into a greater understanding of God’s will and a determination to follow that will. He made a...

You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat You’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” Simply defined, it means that you should eat healthy if you want to be healthy. This phrase can trace its roots back to the early 1800’s. It came from the 1826 work The Physiology of Taste, in which...

It Is Well

Above the piano in our house is a large wood sign with the phrase, “it is well with my soul” on it. Kimberly and I purchased it during a season of our life together where we were not completely sure what the future had in store for our little family. Since then, the...

Do Over

  I messed up on recording my recent radio programs. The sound quality was so bad Mark could not run them on the air. So, I deleted them and recorded them again.   I sure wish I could do that in real life with all the other mistakes I make. Just delete them...

Don’t Believe Your Preacher

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9 ESV) Here is the test. The “teaching of Christ” is, of course, the very word of God. So, if your...