I worked in a Tire Shop and Service Center in High school for two years. There was a mechanic there named Fred, and he had this huge toolbox filled with Snap-On tools. It was his prized possession as he kept it locked up every night after doing an inventory of his collection. 

Being a mechanic is not about owning tools. But it sure helps to get the job done. Having the right tool at the right time could make any job quicker and more efficient. Fred cared for that toolbox because it housed the things that enabled him to make a living doing what he loved. 

Whenever I think of the Church building, I think of it as a toolbox. A Church does not have to own a building, but it sure helps to get ministry done. Having the space, resources, and equipment makes everything more efficient. The goal is never to have bigger or more modern buildings, but sometimes, it is necessary to build and improve to do what the Lord has called Christians to do.    

It has often been said that the Church is a people, not a building. Be clear: a Church building is a toolbox meant to be used for the work of the Lord. A quality, well-stocked toolbox makes the work of ministry easier for everyone.

The teacher stood on the stage in a room filled with college students. The audience was mostly comprised of skeptics of the faith, and the speaker was trying to teach some of the mysteries of the Bible in a way they could understand. 

Occasionally, while the teacher was speaking, I could feel myself getting tense about a story. Then, they would come to some complicated passage, give one concrete answer, and move on to the next topic.

As a preacher and a person who studies the Bible weekly, I knew that some parts of scripture have been discussed for millennia. One reference to Noah has been debated for the better part of three thousand years by both Jews and Christians. Yet, they gave one solid answer and continued talking. There was no debate, discussion, or interaction, and they were not taking questions. The speaker finished their hour-and-a-half talk, and never once was there a glimmer of doubt in their voice about anything they said. 

One challenge for a believer is to process some complicated passages and topics and then come out with firm convictions. These must be grounded on solid scholarship, interpretation, and historical considerations. We do not arrive at them after watching a thirty-second social media clip. But still, once we are informed of all possible meanings, we pick the clearest and settle into rock-solid beliefs. Unwavering. 

While I disagreed with some of the teacher’s conclusions, I did appreciate their conviction about their faith. Finding someone confident about what they believe is always refreshing.   

The words of my message were soaked in sarcasm and anger. They flowed through my fingertips with ease as I poured out my frustration.

This person’s original message to me questioned my motives. They had made me feel bad, and now I was returning the favor. I will teach them that if they mess with me, they will regret that mistake.

I had a message that was almost a paragraph long before I paused. I looked down at my phone with great pleasure, knowing that this little response would sting. They will never message me like that again, I thought while reading with delight.

Then I stood there momentarily and asked myself, “Would Jesus want me to send this message?” Was I representing my faith well with my response to their words?

After what seemed like an hour, which was probably 30 seconds, I took my finger and started to delete it all. Every word was gone, and only an empty line was left.

I will admit that I was a little disappointed. Revenge in all forms can taste sweet.

The right thing to do for me as a Christian was to respond with grace and forgiveness. My heart should overflow with love and kindness. So I deleted it all.

Perhaps it is okay to write angry words in a message, but it is never right to send it.

Throughout my life, I have vowed multiple times that I would not forget something. I will remember that person and what happened on that day. I will remember this feeling and the way that person touched my life. I promise I will never forget.

The older I get, I have a new vow that I have repeated multiple times: I promise to forget.

I promise to forget that argument we had. Because Jesus forgives me, I will forgive you and never bring it up again. I will not mention that person or what happened on that day. I will forget the way I felt and how I hurt. I promise I will not hold onto this failure for the rest of my life.

It takes incredible mental capacity to remember everything. Forgetting is usually an act of the will.

Be careful what you joke about when God is part of the equation.

“If I ever went to Church, the roof would fall in.”

“There is about as much chance of me becoming a Christian as me becoming a houseplant.”

“The only way I would be a member of a Church is if they paid me.”

“I would only go to a small group if everyone drank beer and ate wings.”

“Oh yeah, I will serve the Lord with all my extra time.”

“You have a better chance of raising the dead than getting me to talk in front of the Church.”

“I think Bible college is for people with no direction in life.”

“Becoming a missionary is the last thing I want to do.”

I have heard people say all those things or at least something very similar. And each time, the person did precisely what they joked they would never do.

Be careful what you joke about when God is part of the equation, or the final joke might be on you.

The movie came out in 1967. That was five years before I was born, so I know I did not see it at the theater. My parents bought a 45 record with the song “Bare Necessities” on it, and my brother and I listened to it repeatedly. All I know is that I saw the movie “The Jungle Book” in my childhood and loved it.

It was not until I had children of my own and bought the VHS tape of the movie that it burned indelibly into my brain. In one scene, the boy Mowgli encounters Kaa, the snake, in the forest. He wants to eat the boy, so he tries to trick him with his words. He tells the boy he has a way for him to never leave the jungle. He will show Mowgli the way to stay there forever. Then he launches into a little song with the simple words “Trust in Me.”

Before the serpent can complete his task of destroying the boy, Mowgli must trust him more than anything else.

Does any of this sound familiar?

It is an echo of Eden. More than that, it is how the devil still works today. Evil comes to us and asks, “Did God really say?” Satan invites us into a trusting relationship with him.

Spiritual confrontation is never “Choosing good or choosing evil.” It is the more subtle, “Will you trust God or something else?”

When visiting a four-star hotel, you will discover two groups of people.

There is one who is unhappy because they wanted a five-star hotel. They are used to staying in luxury, and because of a situation beyond their control, they must accept something less. They will complain and find fault because nothing is good enough for them. They feel like they deserve better.

The other group is thrilled because they usually stay in a three-star or less hotel. They view everything they are experiencing as a luxury that they normally do not enjoy. They will be happy and find joy in everything because it is far better than they deserve.

Same hotel. Two completely different perspectives.

How has the Lord blessed you in this life? You have a choice. You can be unhappy and frustrated, or you can be happy and grateful.

When I find thankful people filled with joy, it is usually not because they have something better than others. It is that they have chosen a different perspective.

My dad used to say, “You know what the good book says, ‘Life is but the twinkling of an eye.'”

Until I was in Bible college, I was one hundred percent sure that this was precisely what the Bible recorded. Then I tried to find the verse. This is what I saw,

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – NIV 2011)

The passage is about how quickly we will be transformed when Jesus returns. And it is not about the span of our life. 

I can only guess that my father heard a sermon that used this verse somewhere. That preacher took “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye” to reference this life. Once we become a Christian, this life flies by until we meet Jesus in heaven. It is not a good interpretation of the actual verse, but it still holds truth because this life does fly fast.

That one line I probably heard him say about a thousand times in my lifetime, that was until his flash was over. The eye twinkled, and he was gone. But I must admit that one phrase is one of the most memorable things he said. In my mind, I can never remember him being sad when he said it. It was always a matter-of-fact statement with an undertone of hope. He was always saying it like, “This life is over fast, but eternity awaits.” Perhaps he knew that the passage in the Corinthian letter is very hope-filled. The following lines speak of our immortal bodies and death being defeated.

Everyone knows this life is short, and you can use whatever phrase you desire to capture that truth. Christians look at that fact with hope and not with despair. I know my dad did, and I hope you do too.

Jesus tells the story of the separation of the sheep and the goats in Matthew chapter 25. It is a parable about the judgment of all humanity. After the split, the groups want to know, what did we do or not do to deserve this? He responds that people were hungry and you fed them, thirsty and you gave them a drink, a stranger and you invited them in, and they were sick, and you looked after them. Then he adds the line that states that people “were in prison, and you came to visit.”

We are often quick to offer food and water, clothing, shelter, and medical care, but the last one requires time. That last one may be the toughest in a world where everyone is busy and time is more valuable than money.

Over the past weeks, my wife and I have noticed how many people want us to stop and talk. The elderly couple next door, the lady whose husband drives a semi for a living, the senior adult with a family member with health issues, and even my insurance salesman, who spends most of their day alone in the office, all want to talk. And not simply talk; they want to have hour-long conversations with real depth and meaning.

As Christians, we love to help people, and it is part of what it means to follow Jesus. What if one of the most significant things you could do this week is to give yourself to the ministry of conversation? Would you be willing to sit down and talk to a stranger or a non-believer and share Jesus’s grace through your time? 

May God bless those who take the time to visit others.  

In 2020 Covid hit, and I, like all pastors, began video recording sermons. This presented a new challenge for me. How do I look at the camera, create a quality sermon experience, and keep from looking at my notes? With all other Church functions not occurring, I thought this would be the perfect time to learn to preach without notes. And so, my journey began.

Over the last three years, I have perfected a system that works for me to remember my sermon and be prepared every Sunday. Several people have asked me, “How do you remember all that?” My answer is here.

First, I write my sermon on Monday afternoon and Tuesday and finish it Wednesday morning. I start with research, then a rough outline, an extended outline, a complete draft, and finally, I edit 2-3 times. Since all my sermons are original to me, repeatedly going through them helps most form in my mind.

Next, I do not look at it on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday morning. This allows me to clear my head and return to it with fresh eyes when I reread it.

Saturday evening, I take the sermon back out around 7-8 pm and read it intently 3-4 times. I am trying to remember keywords, illustrations, and movement. I mentally picture each page as I work through the material.

Usually, on Saturday night into Sunday, I do not sleep very well. Whenever I am awake, I replay each page and try to determine what parts I forgot. Whether I sleep well or not, I wake up at 5 am sharp. I get dressed to go to the track or walk on the treadmill. While dressing, I look over the pages and try to fill in the blanks in my mind. Then, if possible, I head to the local high school track and walk 5-6 miles. While walking, I begin with a long prayer time. I follow that by preaching through the entire sermon. Sometimes it is out loud, and other times it is only in my head. Once I finish, I walk back through the sermon, hitting all the key movements.

After that, I go home and get ready for worship. I arrive and do all the things that need to be done. If possible, I look through the sermon one more time before placing it on my chair in the auditorium. I leave it there as my security blanket. I have needed it twice in the last three years, but currently, I rest easy knowing it is there if needed.

I preach twice on Sunday morning, walk into my office, throw my printed pages away, and start the whole process again.