November is the season of gratitude, a time to celebrate the good that has shaped the year. As I look back on 2025, I’m grateful for so many experiences. Today, I’m sharing my Top 10. Top 10 This is the fifth edition of what has become an annual tradition: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021. Read More …
Discipleship
Worship in the Food Pantry (#2268)
I have worshipped in nearly any and every place imaginable. I have participated in formal communal worship services in places far beyond the walls of church campuses. Today, I worshipped in a food pantry for the first time in my life. Hope Pantry White Rock Center of Hope started in 1988 as a Food Pantry serving a single zip code in East Dallas. This 501(c)3 launched in a space offered as an in-kind donation by a Presbyterian church. Over the last 37 years Hope transitioned from Read More …
Inspired by The Rev. Dr. Bill Tillman: My 25-Year Writing Journey (#2265)
I first met the Rev. Dr. Bill Tillman 25 years ago, shortly after transferring to Hardin-Simmons University to complete my Master of Divinity degree at Logsdon Seminary. From Meeting to Mentorship: My Earliest Encounters with Dr. Tillman I was fortunate to arrive while he was serving as the T. B. Maston Professor of Christian Ethics. Taking nearly every graduate course he offered, I found him to be both a gifted teacher and a generous mentor. Dr. Tillman's insight, integrity, and Read More …
My Visit to St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral (#2263)
This morning I was a first time visitor at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City. About St. Paul's St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral was founded more than 125 years ago and has been listed on on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. Located in downtown Oklahoma City the cathedral is the spiritual center of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. Today, St. Paul's is "committed to being a place for all who seek and share God's unconditional and abundant love, Read More …
My Visit to Quail Springs United Methodist (#2260)
This morning I worshipped for the fourth time this year and eighth time in the last two years in Oklahoma. My prior experiences include: About Quail Springs United Methodist Quail Springs United Methodist Church is "an inclusive, diverse, and faithful community, that shares the love of God, beginning with our neighborhood and extending to a needy world" that seeks to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." The congregation is part of the Reconciling Read More …
From One Church to Many Churches (#2259)
On August 31 I concluded a 14 month role as the Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Arlington, Texas (see Keep Living and Loving Like Jesus). In the three weeks since, I've enjoyed three very different worship experiences in nearby congregations affiliated with three denominations. Week 1: Cathedral of Hope On September 7, I worshipped at the 10:00am service at my home church: Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas. Week 2: Nor'kirk Read More …
A New Presbyterian Experience (#2258)
As someone who has spent about half of my life as a Presbyterian, I'm thankful for new opportunities within this tradition. Today, I served as the guest preacher at Nor'kirk Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Carrollton, Texas, on the occasion of their Round Up Sunday (elsewhere commonly referred to as Rally Day or Kick Off Sunday). Notably, this congregation is preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary next month. My message, Love Wastefully, is based on Luke 15:1-32. You can view it Read More …
Avoid Counterfeits (#2257)
Passage for reflection: 1 Timothy 1:1-11 Thrifting – thrift store shopping – has grown in popularity in recent years. I happen to have some behind the scenes knowledge of the industry thanks to operating three very different stores that support three ministries seeking to make God’s kindom more real in their backyards. Each of these stores relies exclusively on donated goods for their inventory. The volunteers who receive and process these gifts often find incredible gems. I’ve heard Read More …
Keep Living and Loving Like Jesus (#2255)
Today I preached my final sermon as Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). It was the concluding message in the Discovering Joy series. Sermon My message, “Do You Know?” is based on Philippians 4:4-9 & John 21:15-17. You can watch below or read the manuscript. Excerpt As someone who was born in Arlington, grew up in Arlington, and now lives in Arlington I’ve traveled down South Cooper Street thousands of times. Despite passing by Advent on nearly all Read More …
Top 10 Sermons Preached at Advent Lutheran Church (#2254)
This Sunday will be my final day as the Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Arlington, Texas. Over the last fourteen months I have preached more than 50 sermons in this congregation. The top ten, based on YouTube views are (sermon titles link to videos) Top Series Organizing the top sermons by the sermon series they were a part of reveals that five different series appeared in the top ten list. The top series, as reflected by most sermons in the top ten, Read More …