Let’s admit it. We’ve got one of the least cool denominational names in Christendom. In fact, I’ll bet that half of you can’t even spell it. Go ahead, close your eyes and try spelling the “P” word. Presbyterian. There was a day when it carried weight…clout…gravitas. It was a badge of honor to be the […]
Come again?
Come again? When you hear that question, what do you think of? I can think of at least two things. First, “Come again?” makes me think of someone who didn’t quite hear what you said and needs you to repeat it. While I don’t often use the expression myself, there are moments when I need […]
The end times
“Do you think we are in the end times?” I’ve been asked that question more than any other over the last two years. Peter addressed it 2000 years ago when he wrote to his exiled friends, “The end of all things is at hand.” If that was true then, it’s certainly truer now. There’s some […]
Won’t you come back?
Almost exactly two years ago, Cyndi and I were visiting our daughter, Rachel, in North Carolina, when we received news of the shutdown. A virus called “Covid-19” was spreading like wildfire. No one knew how to stop it or how it worked. So, the state of Washington, along with many other states, went into emergency […]
Call it what it is: wicked!
I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew. I certainly hope so. If Vladimir Putin was hoping for a quick capitulation by the Ukrainian people, he is surely disappointed. Though outmanned and outgunned, the Ukrainians have risen up in defense of their country in what can only be described as heroic. Putin underestimated the […]
The freedom to be a servant
I’ll admit it: one of my all-time favorite movies is Braveheart. It’s a VERY fictionalized account of a Scottish rogue-hero named William Wallace. VERY fictionalized. But it’s also very fun. One of the iconic moments is when Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, cries out, “…they may take our lives, but they’ll never take…our freedom!” I […]
Knocked down but not knocked out
The Apostle Paul once wrote these words to the Corinthian Christians: “But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t […]
Strong start, strong finish
Will you indulge me as I take one last backward glance at 2021? I know—many of you would rather leave that year firmly in the rearview mirror. But 2021 brought a lot of blessings to Chapel Hill and the last two weeks felt like God’s huge exclamation mark on those blessings! Let’s review: • GLOW, […]
A fresh start
Ordinarily, I might be inclined to say as I begin this blog, “I don’t know about you….” But in this case, I think I DO know about you when I say, “Aren’t you ready to launch into a New Year with fresh beginnings and the past couple years firmly in our rear-view mirror?” I’m excited […]
Christmas greetings
Merry Christmas! I hope you were able to attend one of our five Christmas Eve services over the past couple of days and I pray you’re able to enjoy today as well. It’s one of the most important birthdays we Christians celebrate! Because your day is likely filled with all the things that make Christmas […]