On Sunday January 5, 2020 I walked to the pulpit at Lakeside Baptist Church and preached a message entitled “Power for 2020.” The message was the beginning of a series through the book of Acts and the focus was on how we need the power of the Lord in our day more than anything else.Continue reading “A Pastor’s Reflections on 2020”
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The Last Season
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV) WILL WE EVEN PLAY? This was the question hanging over the 2020 Briarwood Lions football season. The COVID-19 pandemic had affected everyone and everything. The total shut down that came in the spring had given way to gradualContinue reading “The Last Season”
A Mighty Warrior & Special Friend Has Gone Home
“Hey, Greg, this is your old, old, old, old, old, friend calling…..” So began the voicemail from Dick Thomassian on my cell phone at 12:44 p.m. on July 9, 2020. Later that day, I called him back and we had a long, encouraging talk. Little did I know that would be the last time IContinue reading “A Mighty Warrior & Special Friend Has Gone Home”
When We have More Questions than Answers
As I write these words, it’s Friday afternoon and another Sunday is approaching. The seventh consecutive Sunday that the church I serve will not meet in person for worship. It’s hard to comprehend. While talking to a pastor friend of mine this week, I joked that I keep waiting to wake up one morning andContinue reading “When We have More Questions than Answers”
Needed Changes I am Hopeful This Season will Bring
Let me be clear up front: I am NOT happy this COVID-19 pandemic has happened. The suffering in terms of life, health, fear, and economic disruption has been enormous. I am not happy this has happened and my heart breaks to see the devastation all of this has caused. I fully understand that quoting RomansContinue reading “Needed Changes I am Hopeful This Season will Bring”
An Easter without a Service is NOT an Easter without a Savior.
Maybe the whirlwind of everything we have been dealing with surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from fully hitting home with me. In the last couple of days, it hit home. Our church and almost all churches will not be meeting on Easter Sunday 2020. Yes, we will be having online worship and usingContinue reading “An Easter without a Service is NOT an Easter without a Savior.”
Processing a Pandemic
The breathtaking swiftness with which this virus pandemic has gripped us all is incredible. On February 20th (a short five weeks ago) our staff lead team had an all day retreat. One aspect of that day was conducting a SWOT analysis for our church – identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for Lakeside. TheContinue reading “Processing a Pandemic”
A Season for the Ages – the 2019 Briarwood Lions Football team
It is only now that I am able to write about the experience that was the 2019 football season at Briarwood Christian School. Unless you had a son on the team or you were involved coaching or otherwise, you really can’t understand how special it was. It’s difficult to put into words, but it’s worthContinue reading “A Season for the Ages – the 2019 Briarwood Lions Football team”
Giving Thanks to God
A mother and her little four year old girl were walking through a fruit market and the man running the orange stand thought the little girl was so cute that he just handed her an orange. Seeing an opportunity to teach one of those life lessons, the mother looks at the little girl and saysContinue reading “Giving Thanks to God”
A Few Words about “The Budget”
For most pastors, there a few times of the year with more anxiety than when “the budget” is presented to the church for adoption. Most churches have some type of open discussion time regarding the budget prior to the vote to adopt the budget. That can get interesting! At times, this is a point ofContinue reading “A Few Words about “The Budget””
