Trey Morgan linked to this powerful video on his blog.  It's awesome.

This is a sad news story about a bunch of teens in Greenwich, Connecticut who had the initiative to clear off a wiffleball field.  Unfortunately the neighbors didn't like the noise that disturbed their suburban oasis, and they bullied the town to kick the kids off this lot.  The kids spent three weeks setting up this field, but the town cleared away their labor in about a day.

Some of the neighbors went so far as to hire an attorney and threatened to sue the town.  In a world where kids have so many negative influences, it's sad when seemingly good kids can't have some good old fashioned fun.  It kind of reminds me of how some churches spend more energy running teenagers off their parking lots because of skateboarding than they spend trying to engage the youth and minister to them.  Then those same people wring their hands wondering why youth aren't interested in coming to church.  *sigh*

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This Sunday I'm preaching on Matthew 14:22-23, which is the oft-told story of Jesus walking on water, and Peter's attempt at doing the same.  This is yet another familiar story that cause me much consternation when planning a sermon around it.  I guess it's something of a paradox, but when you have a passage that is so familiar and seemingly so well understood, you want to provide a message to reach the congregation and teach them.

I am first struck by the fact that the disciples didn't recognize Jesus when they saw him.  They saw what appeared to be an apparition going across the water, and they were terrified, thinking it was a ghost (Matthew 14:26).  Only Peter realized Christ's presence, although he must have had some doubt since he said "Lord, if it's you tell me to come to you on the water" (Matthew 14:27).

I find it interesting that Peter was waiting for an invitation from ...

Conflict occurs sometimes in the day-to-day operations of a church.  Feelings get hurt and egos are bruised.  Rash decisions are made that aren't in the best interest in fulfulling God's mandate on His church.

I'm reminded of the story from I Kings 3:16-28.  Two women who lived in the same house had small babies at about the same time.  One woman had apparently accidentally smothered her baby in the middle of the night by rolling over on it. When she realized what had happend she slipped her dead child beside the other woman, and taken the still living child as her own.

When the other woman awoke, she was horrified to find the child dead.  After close examination she realized this wasn't her child at all, and that her housemate had taken her baby.

The women went to King Solomon to plead their cases.  They each argued that the living child was theirs.  King Solomon had to ...

Yesterday was the anniversary of my marriage to Vicki.  Since it was a work night we had a very simple celebration.  Zakk watched his brother and sister so we could go out alone shopping, then out to eat.

Yesterday was also my birthday.  I am getting older, which is a good thing.  I'm certainly not afraid of death, but I just have so much more I need to do.

Having just attended a funeral this week, Vicki asked me what I wanted at my funeral.  I told her I wanted lots of music.  Let's face it, funerals are really more for the people who are left behind, since the departed are dancing in heaven.  I want lots of singing and rejoicing to remind people that there is more than meets the eyes, and we should rejoice when a loved one goes on to be with God.

She asked me what song I would like to have sung.  I told her since the service is more for those left behind, that I want a ...