At our church, we talk about how fun personal preferences are, and how cool it is that God has given us 168 hours a week and how in most weeks, we are allowed to engage with our favorite music, our favorite books and sermons and Bible passages for around 165 of them. For about 3…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 9

Here is an interesting one that I have wrestled with under the heading of Leadership priorities Perhaps there is a “leader” reason that the leadership priorities don’t match up with yours. Again, this would most often be an issue of alignment and submission.  I need to submit to and align myself into the line of the direction…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 8

Notice, this was more than a mere preference.  This was a priority.  The first kind that I think is an appropriate time to change local churches, other than the Basics changing, are Family Priorities. Objective Christian deal breakers include things like sin being embraced by the established leadership (notice that this is not about perfection,…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 7

Switching From One Church to Another within the same community I am sorry it took this long to answer the original question, but wow, there was a lot of foundational thought that was needed! I want to intentionally avoid many of the words we use in this conversation that trigger emotions, at least so far. …Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 6

Here are my talks from a really fun Seminar in Houston.  These include some of what I consider my most important material about marriage! http://heritagepark.org/media/279072-1240789-1687454/better-together-marriage-conference-session-1 http://heritagepark.org/media/279072-1240789-1684132/better-together-marriage-conference-session-2 http://heritagepark.org/media/279072-1240789-1683885/better-together-marriage-conference-session-3

The Way that Personal Responsibility vs.  Preference play into initially choosing a church. It is important to note that I very opposed to the idea that local churches are in competition with one another.    We are not. If we are on the same page with the Basics, we are on the same team! I also want to…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 5

Ok, so even if that list is not complete, those are the kind of things I mean with the word “Basics”. When you are choosing between good options within a community for the first time, you want to look at everything from biblical focus, statement of faith and leadership structure… But at this stage –…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 4

The basics checklist continues… The mission is the Great Commission.  Is the Great Commission essentially the mission (no matter how it is worded)?  Many churches have mission statements.  Examine it. The wording may be a little different, but is the church’s mission statement similar to or an application of the Great Commission?  In case you don’t…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 3

It is sad to meet Christians and hear that they have been in a new community for months and have “not yet found a church to go to”. Especially in East Texas, where I am, there are often dozens of churches that would at least cover the basics to encourage a person to get involved. What…Continue reading How and When to Switch churches – part 2

I am hearing from people who are subscribed to my website that they aren’t getting notifications.  I cannot think of another way to check.  I am not trying to run up any numbers, just curious.  Thanks, everyone.  The series that is building right now for the next 10 weeks about choosing and switching churches is…Continue reading are notifications going out? please click to help me know. Thanks, Chris.

about to be delivering my first sermon live online at the South Spring Facebook page and at www.southspring.org/live.  come join us!  

I wish I had the margin right now to write a more in-depth article about my considerations regarding part of my conversation about this virus. I do want people to wisely plan.  I hope that people are always wise in preparing to take care of who have been entrusted to them. I want Christian people,…Continue reading Christians in a Pandemic

More thoughts directly from the Journal I kept while on my 60 hours of total isolation. The next morning, I went for a hike and wrote a little to try to understand my issues with boredom.  I don’t know that my direct intentional thoughts were very insightful, but my continued ruminations probably offer more insight:…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report VI

Finally, solitude. Though certainly the segment of my sabbatical that was most difficult, it was also technically short. I flew to the house of my main prayer partner in California.   Johnie and I pray together and for one another, over the phone, a few times each month. It is rare for us to get face-to-face time,…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report V

  Time away with my wife This turned into quite a story.  Once again, this didn’t go as planned, at all. First, in case you would read this but don’t know my wife, you need to know that she is a home-person.  As adventurous as she can be, she prefers warmth to adventure, generally. She misses…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report IV

Family Camp A week later, Pine Cove Family Camp started, as did my first week to not preach of the 6 weeks in a row I would not be preaching. Family Camp was, as expected, a great time to connect and hang out and enjoy family.  In 2017, it carried an extra sentimental power since the…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report III

In the end, here is how the schedule worked out: Week 1:  Family Camp at Pine Cove Woods Week 2-3:  Time at Home and visiting church Week 4:  Time away with Ginger Week 5:  Isolation Week 6:  Preparation to come back Surprise! Week 1 – I was speaking at Family Camp at www.pinecove.comWoods.  Traditionally, I…Continue reading Sabbatical (2017) Report II

Everyone who knows me asks about my opinions about Star Wars stuff.   If nothing more valuable than my personal opinion isn’t meaningful to you, then these aren’t the droids you are looking for… move along… move along. These movies were super important to me as a kid for so many reasons.  Here is a very…Continue reading Hated and Not Hated about Star Wars Ep 9