Rustlings (February 10, 2020)
In an interview with a television journalist, Meryl Streep once said, “I have a theory that movies operate on the level of dreams…” At the very least, movies draw us into the world of cinematic imagination and into the depths of our own imaginations. Watching a well-produced movie almost feels like dreaming a dream. (How […]
Rustlings (February 3, 2020)
I’d like to introduce you to John. You will never meet someone who loves Jesus more or the church more. He is a gifted writer who has allowed his pen to explore multiple genres: biography, didactic letters and even fantasy literature. He’s a little more verbose than some of his counterparts, but he’s also a […]
Rustlings (January 27, 2020)
I’m glad our exterior church signs are monumental and not electronic—or worse—marquis-styled letter signs. Monumental signs do not have to be changed each week. The Senior Minister—nor anyone else on the church staff—has to conjure a quippy quote to publicly post each week. It has been my observation that church signs typically push creativity to […]
Rustlings (January 13, 2020)
This past summer, I was invited to speak to a gathering of denominational ministers (non-Baptist) about our church’s system of fundraising. In a climate where the vast majority of churches are experiencing a decline in giving, we have become an anomaly. For the last six budget cycles—including 2019—we have carefully managed our expenditures and have […]
Rustlings (January 6, 2020)
Each year our congregation selects deacons to serve among us. They give of their time and talents to work in multiple areas of ministry and administration. They bring a deeper and broader wisdom to the work of your Senior Minister and staff. They are often the bridge between the church and our engagement with the […]
Rustlings (December 23, 2019)
It has been called The Butterfly Effect. In the chaos theory of mathematics, a small change in a large system can have large effects later and elsewhere in the system. The idea is largely based on the work of Edward Lorenz who metaphorically theorized that the flutter of a butterfly’s wings could disrupt airflow in […]
Rustlings (December 16, 2019)
Most of my Christmas shopping is complete. I always save at least one gift to be purchased on Christmas Eve. I actually love the hustle and bustle of the last day before Christmas. It’s a personal tradition. For the most part, I’ve stayed within budget and have expended all the money I will expend on […]
Rustlings (December 9, 2019)
On December 28, 48 pilgrims associated with First Baptist Greenville (FBG) will embark on the inaugural “Cruise the Bible Pilgrimage.” Some are long-time members, some are new, and some are friends. Rev. Joy Yee and I will be leading the learning sessions. Jenna Manning is handling all the travel/financial logistics. (Thank goodness!) I’ve led numerous […]
Rustlings (December 2, 2019)
Several Christmases ago, a semi-chaotic crowd of dissimilarly musically trained individuals got together to bring us our inaugural First on Main concert. For weeks, the motley crew of musicians gathered in the Fellowship Hall selecting songs, transposing keys, learning chords, adapting arrangements, and learning to play together. The culmination of their efforts was presented on […]
Rustlings (November 18, 2019)
Much of our history has been romanticized. As decades and now centuries pass, it’s easy to reminisce in ways that affirm our current biases and undergird our present cultural idealized values. The truth is, our history is a messy mix of good and bad, justice and injustice, civility and brutality, giving and taking, healing and […]