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March 2014

March 28, 2014

My First Experience with Hopelessness

The first time I truly encountered hopelessness was in the mid-90s. To be honest, I'd...

March 26, 2014

Why We Don't Have an Invitation at our Church

We don't have an "invitation" at the end of our services, and there's a very...

March 24, 2014

A Guaranteed Way to Get Unchurched People to Come to Your Church

Sometimes we overcomplicate things. There are tons of books out there on how to see...

March 14, 2014

What a Simple Hug Can Do

It's amazing to see the impact you can have at your church this Sunday if...

March 12, 2014

The Small Thing a Pastor Can Do To Make a Huge Impression

This past Sunday at church I met several new families at Mt Vernon Church, but...

March 10, 2014

Six Golden Calves that Hurt the Church

I had a frustrating conversation with a fellow pastor the other day. Not frustrating because...

March 05, 2014

What to Do During a Bad Church Solo

We've all experienced it before: the overwhelming panic that covers you like a blanket when...

February 2014

February 28, 2014

Why We Created a Next Steps Desk at Mt Vernon

Things are always changing at Mt Vernon. One of the major changes we made in...

February 26, 2014

How to Have Your Heart Broken in Ministry

My heart is broken the fourth Monday of every month at 1 pm. It's like...

February 21, 2014

How a Handshake Can Change Your Church

This couple isn't supposed to be at our church. One grew up Church of Christ,...

February 19, 2014

Hooray! We Ruined Church!

We ruined church for someone, and we're excited about it. A few days ago I...

February 12, 2014

10 Things You Learn After 50 Years of Ministry

Recently I was watching an old Catalyst talk where Chuck Swindoll shared ten things he's learned...

February 05, 2014

36 Things I've Learned in 36 Years of Life

A few days ago I turned 36. While 36 isn't in itself a magic number,...

January 2014

January 29, 2014

The 90-Day Tithe Challenge

Several months ago I attended a conference at a great church in South Carolina (NewSpring)...

January 24, 2014

Why Church Should Be Fun

Church should be fun. It really should. Now wait, all you coffee-shop-theologians, before you start...

January 15, 2014

The (Real*) Reason You Don't Bring Friends to Church

Here's a reason that we don't bring friends to church, one that we don't talk...

January 13, 2014

7 Reasons Why We Don't Share Our Faith

Let's be honest: most Christians don't share their faith. We say it's important, we feel...

January 10, 2014

4 Ways that God Speaks to You

Back in high school I went through a Bible study (a few times) called "Experiencing...

December 2013

December 19, 2013

Mt Vernon Rap

Last night Mt Vernon Church premiered a staff Christmas present to the church. Enjoy!

December 09, 2013

Why Americans Don't Trust Each Other

USA Today recently reported (original article here) that Americans don't trust each other anymore. In...

December 06, 2013

Advent Conspiracy

In 2006, five pastors got together to conspire to celebrate Christmas differently. Why? Because Americans...

October 2013

October 30, 2013

Growing Up Amish, by Ira Wagler

Growing Up Amish is a moving memoir of a life and lifestyle that is foreign...

October 23, 2013

Why Adult Sunday School Can Hurt the Church

Now, before you start throwing rocks the size and shape of your LifeWay quarterly, hear...

October 21, 2013

One Ministry Every Church Should Have

Yesterday at Mt Vernon I received a comment from a first time guest that I...

September 2013

September 25, 2013

Stories of Hope (Why I Do What I Do)

Yesterday at staff meeting (whoop whoop!) we went around the table and shared stories about...

September 18, 2013

Imagine . . .

In last week's message at Mt Vernon (watch it online here), I cast a vision...

September 16, 2013

Creating Contagious Communities of Hope

Yesterday at Mt Vernon we unveiled a phrase (some might say purpose statement) that will...

September 09, 2013

Why You Need to Be in a Small Group (And Why I Love Mine)

Mt Vernon Church is big on LifeGroups (our uber-hip renaming of Sunday School), and here's...

September 04, 2013

Why First Impressions Are So Important

This past Sunday my wife and I were out of town and had the opportunity...

August 2013

August 28, 2013

30 Things I'm Thankful For at Mt Vernon

I write a lot about life and ministry on this blog, but every once in...