This past week, something occurred that will only happen three times this century: Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fell on the same day. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and generosity that ends at sundown on Maundy Thursday. Valentine’s Day is, of course, that made-up holiday intended to […]
The end is near! (Or is it?)
Eschatology. It’s a very fancy theological word that means “the study of end times.” It’s based on a Greek word eschatos which means “last things.” In our EPC world (Evangelical Presbyterian Church…our denomination), eschatology is considered a non-essential. In other words, we affirm that faithful, Bible-believing Christians can disagree on these doctrines and not have […]
Happy New Year…and don’t forget…
Happy New Year, my Sweetheart Church! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Things were certainly hopping around here! Our five Christmas Eve services welcomed 3,742 people (which includes almost 230 children) who enjoyed the glorious music, candles, and fellowship. When you include those who tuned in to our livestreamed services on YouTube, we worshipped […]
Christmas Eve memories
I’ve lived through quite a few Christmas Eves…more than half of them here at Chapel Hill! I was reflecting upon some of my most memorable of the lot. Yakima, second grade – I was out in our front yard on Park Avenue late Christmas Eve when I was 8 years old. (Yeah…it was safe for […]
Closing out 2023 with a bang!
Last Saturday was amazing! For the first time, we hosted TWO GLOW Christmas performances, one for kids and one for teens and adults. There was a huge push into our community! We even had a banner over Harborview! GLOW is a low-risk, high-fun holiday entry point that, we trust, will encourage not-yet-Christians to consider the […]
Will you share with Daddy?
Our daughter Rachel loved goldfish crackers as a small child. (Who doesn’t? I just bought a Costco carton for myself…about a million goldfish in each one, I believe.) One day as she was munching contentedly on her crackers, I thought I’d test the strength of her generosity muscle. “Rachel, will you share with Daddy?” Nothing. “Rachel, can […]
Giving Q&A
1. What is a tithe?A tithe means literally “a tenth.” The tithe was 10 percent of whatever was made or produced; it was the first 10 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.) Remember, this was […]
Next steps
Thank you, everyone, for your kind and encouraging words to Cyndi and me since my announcement last Sunday of our retirement date. Although this should come as no surprise—I’ve been dropping hints for a while, now!—I realize it raises lots of “what’s next” questions. Let me try and answer a few of them. The next […]
Focus on our future…honor our legacy
At our last Presbytery meeting (the regional gathering of EPC churches), we received training on congregational health. There are several qualities that characterize healthy, growing churches. One was this: healthy churches are focused on the future, not on the past. I understand that. I even agree with it. We can’t live in the past. Our […]
High-powered drinking
(THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, ONE SERVICE only, 10:00 am!) I had a German Shepherd named Caleb and he was hilarious. When I sprayed a stream of water from the garden hose, he hated it! He attacked it, snapped at it, and would leap in the air to “catch it.” Then, he’d walk toward me, trying […]