There are two topics Jesus loved to talk about that a lot of people consider to be off limits: forgiveness and money. It’s kind of like when they say the preacher has stopped preachin’ and gone to meddlin’. Jesus was fond of meddlin’. First of all, Jesus knew that we couldn’t live as authentic disciples…
I’m always a little surprised when I learn that someone doesn’t participate in any kind of social media. I do understand, though. I became a reluctant member of Facebook when my son and sister-in-law created an account in my name more than 10 years ago. Facebook has simply become a part of life and, for…
This past week, at our Saturday Night Alive service, we had a visitor that looked familiar. I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before, so I asked if he’d ever been with us in worship. He smiled and said, “I think I know where you’ve seen me. I’m the guy who sits in the…
Many years ago, a farmer in my congregation died very suddenly of a heart attack. He and his wife had been partners in everything they did. His passing turned her life upside down. A month or two after the farmer’s funeral, I noticed his widow had not returned to church. When I went to visit,…
Many years ago, a farmer in my congregation died very suddenly of a heart attack. He and his wife had been partners in everything they did. His passing turned her life upside down. A month or two after the farmer’s funeral, I noticed his widow had not returned to church. When I went to visit,…
I heard an interview today with a gentleman who wrote a book on procrastination. When the interviewer asked him if there was anything positive about putting off until tomorrow what could be done today, he said, “Nope.” Of course, many of us get good at working under pressure – mainly because we’ve never tried anything…
This past Sunday afternoon, I had an unexpected visitor come to my front door. Since I live well off the beaten path, that doesn’t happen very often. When I opened the door, he said, “Hi, I’m David Turner,” and then handed me a book I’d ordered online. It turns out the book was delivered to…
Every year at this time, the staff of FCC sits down and reviews our Advent and Christmas Eve services. We ask questions, like: What worked? What didn’t work? What do we need to do next year to improve our services, reach out to the community and better tell the story of Jesus? In some ways,…
I have never been a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. If something needs to be done – then do it now! However, what I do like about New Year’s resolutions is that they can focus our “intentions.” Nothing gets done without INTENT. There is zero chance I will ever get into shape without first…
This Sunday will only be the third time this century Christmas day has fallen on a Sunday – and only the fifth time during the course of my ministry (1988, 1994, 2005, & 2011). I don’t remember much about 1988, but I definitely remember 1994 and every one after that. What I remember best is…