On Saturday, July 16th, I awakened to a headache, body aches, and dizziness. That afternoon, I tested positive for COVID-19. During my time in quarantine, I’ve had several thoughts about my experience and I’d like to share a few with you. It could’ve been worse.I’m vaccinated but remember, vaccination doesn’t prevent a person from contracting … Read more
Our county is once again mourning the loss of multiple lives at the hands of misguided individuals. We are at a moral crossroad that must be navigated with care. We can either abandon the truth and retreat deeper into apathy, or we can reclaim the moral high ground and revitalize our community. I’d like to … Read more
As churches look to recover from the separation caused by the pandemic, many pastors have lamented their poor church attendance. I’ve heard pastors say things like “we’re back open but we only have a few people each week.” Some have said “our members won’t come to church but I see them everywhere else.” I’ve considered … Read more
Every church member is important. However, it’s not always clear how we can help make our churches better. Here are 5 ways every member can help build and strengthen our church. Make a commitment to spiritual development.“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the … Read more
Things have changed in our churches and may never really go back to pre-pandemic standards. Sunday schools, missionary ministries, and special services may not survive the pandemic. Youth and children’s ministries will be unrecognizable as we adjust to new social norms. Small group teaching ministries and community fellowship gatherings may die out because of a … Read more
Earlier today, I watched a clip where a mega church pastor named Louie Giglio (@louiegiglio) suggested instead of saying “white privilege” he would suggest “white blessings”. You can watch the clip here: https://twitter.com/namenzie/status/1272692946907824135?s=20 . This is disturbing for many reasons but I want to use an analogy to show why this statement along with “all … Read more
Is it alright to pray angry prayers? In my sermon yesterday, watch it here, I introduced the idea of praying angrily. I know this is not a concept we discuss much in church, but I believe we need to understand this concept in difficult times. Someone may be wondering “is it alright to pray angry … Read more
Tip 1: Understand the time limit for your fast. During Lent, we will fast for 40 days, Monday – Saturday, each week. We will not fast on Sundays. Lent 2020 begins on Wednesday, February 26th, and ends on Thursday, April 9th. Tip 2: Decide what you’ll be fasting from. One of the biblical definitions of fasting is … Read more
Recently, I was honored to deliver a eulogy for the adult son of one our eldest church members. After the memorial service, I had 2 conversations with another minister and the funeral director that inspired me to write this post. Here are 4 tips to consider when you’re called upon to preach a eulogy. 1. … Read more
It’s been more than a year since I’ve seen a minister preach from paper. Virtually everyone is preaching from an iPad, Android tablet, or Microsoft Surface. Personally, I’ve been preaching from an iPad for 7 years and have learned some lessons I’d like to share with you. Always have a backup. Technology is great but … Read more