The old saying says, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” but I sometimes wonder if adversity isn’t the mother of creativity. Much of creativity is problem solving and problem solving by definition requires a problem. Sometimes you don’t even know you have the problem, but sooner of later each of us will need a game changer. I’ll give you a personal example from my own journey. The First New Thing: Ministry After years of struggling to have an art career,... Read more
So the other day I was scrolling through the inter webs and came upon a video of Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll performing their song Hard Fought Hallelujah on American Idol. I thought it was a great performance of a really great song. It’s a song about the struggles we face in this world as believers, and the times the battle to worship, when circumstances seem to lead us in a different direction, and for some it’s more of a... Read more
I’ve had the question quite a bit in my years of itinerant ministry, “Are you the entertainment?” The question sometimes comes from people who may be somewhat new to the church, and if there are other, more seasoned church people nearby, they are often taken aback. For the. record, I’m not taken aback, not even a little bit. Who’s the Audience? Here’s the thing, to me ministry is ministry. Ministry means service and I am there to serve. I’m there... Read more
This is the second part of a series on Moses and living our calling This article will make more sense, if you read part one first. Moses has tended sheep for half of his eighty years. You’d have to think, life in Pharaoh’s palace was a distant memory, but I’m not so sure. At eighty years old, you’d have to think he believed the ship of him being anything more than a shepherd had sailed. That’s when he found himself... Read more
Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes? Perhaps you feel like you don’t measure up. Maybe you wonder if you can have a calling after all you have done or been through. Maybe you have physical limitation. Maybe you’re just scared. Maybe you just plain think, “Who am I to think God might be able to use me?” If any of these describe your condition, I’d like to introduce you to my “friend” Moses. Humble Beginnings A... Read more
I really went back and forth about writing this article. I usually hate when writers comment on things they have not seen. So putting my cards on the table. I have not seen Disney’s live action Snow White, nor do I intend to, at least until it inevitably ends up on TV or some streaming service for free. I’m just not that interested in it for a variety of reasons. That being said, you’d have to be living under a... Read more
2020: How’s Your Vision? I can’t have been the only pastor to fall for it. We were starting the new decade with a sermon series called Vision 2020. It was a year filled with hope and I had a vision. I was at my church for about five years by this point, and I was excited. The previous five years had been a wonderful whirlwind. I was about a three-quarter-time pastor at the time. The other three-quarters of my time... Read more
I was on social media the other day, and someone posted a memory of one of my favorite things, The Creation Festival. Creation was a Christian Music Festival that was held every Summer from 1979-2022 at the Agape Farm, in Shirleysburg, PA. It would draw as many as 100,000 people. Their slogan was “The highlight of your Summer…maybe your life.” It sure was that for me. In the Beginning In 1997 I was a Christian in trouble. I believed in... Read more
My Rock and Roll Life: Thoughts for Christians in the Arts I just heard that Ozzy Osbourne is retiring. In some ways that feels like the end of an era, and it ages me greatly. I was never a big Black Sabbath fan (Ozzy’s first band for the uninformed) though I did like Iron Man, but when I heard Randy Rhodes’ iconic guitar playing on Crazy Train for the first time I was hooked. Yes, I was a big fan... Read more
If you’re a Christian creative, the only “muse” worth having in the Holy Spirit. The One who spoke the universe into existence and the Maker of all things is the only source we need. This brings to mind what Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV) While this verse certainly has many applications, if you find yourself creatively blocked, seeking inspiration from the... Read more
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