The Word and the Work: Thoughts on Preaching, Pastoring, and the Christian Life

Thanksgiving is this week so that means we have already been under a constant barrage of Christmas music for several weeks now.  As I have fought through this in a very Grinchy fashion I have begun to wonder about Parson Brown in the classic Holiday song Winter Wonderland.  You know he was who they were going to pretend that the snowman was."In the meadow we can build a snowman, and pretend that he is Parson Brown".  Any ways, I have always been aware of the term Parson, but did not really know its origin.  A quick Google search will tell you that a Parson was a clergy member, especially in the Anglican tradition, that was the overseer or pastor of a church, usually in the country, that was not a part of a larger charge or presbytery.   This term has fallen out of use many places, because people are not fond of its rural implications.  Somehow to be called Parson is to be viewed as a rube of sorts amongst men of God.  As I looked at this I was really brought to an appreciat

As my life has gotten busier, I have listened to less and less music through the day.  When I drive I listen to preaching or talk on the phone.  It is simply my reality.  I might even pray a little.  However, a few weeks ago I got the chance to go to a Southern Gospel concert.  That is immaterial, but I heard a song that has stuck with me.  It is called Good Ole Boys. The sound is not great on the video. This song has stuck with me because it has mirrored my life.  Look, it's no secret the way I used to live my life.  It was rough.  It was rowdy.  It was sinful.  I am ashamed of it and I am not here to brag about sins of my past.  The reason I am approaching this subject is because I was the quintessential Good Ole Boy the song mentions.  If you asked people to describe me from age 16 to 22 they might have even used those words paired with some other colorful vocabulary.  I am from the great Southern state of Arkansas and where I grew up there are not many things looked upon be

Well, here we are at the end of Summer.  At least school has started back.  It's still hot.  This means that my family's ministry in the Chestnut Grove area of Buckingham County, Virginia has been officially going on for around 14 months.  I use this blog very intermittently as a way of putting some of my deepest issues out there so that I do not mislead myself.  That being said I would like to share with you about our time here at Chestnut Grove so that you can pray for the church, my family, and me. I have learned quite a few things over the course of this year and thought I might share them with everyone so that those looking into certain kinds of ministry can get a well rounded picture.  Understand, we are a rural church if there ever was one. A friend who came out here to sing during our revival put it this way; He said, " Brother, if you wanted to get away from it all you have succeeded."  This community is unlike any that I have known and it is one of the rea

There is a lot of things that happen in our lives as a family that cause us to stress.  Many times these things are directly related to our oldest son William Paul's diagnosis as having an autism spectrum disorder.  Some days he is so hyper that he absolutely cannot be contained.  Some days he squeals all day long.  Some days he freaks out because he does not have the proper 20+ items in his bed with him so he will not go to sleep.  These are the struggles that parents of kids with ASD face.  It is normal at our house.  Hey, our other sons have their issues too but William Paul is obviously our squeaky wheel that needs more grease.  God Bless my wife because she is the one applying grease most days. Now, with all that said I come to my struggles.  I am a pastor .  More than that I am a Christ follower.  I am a Christ follower wholly concerned with the salvation of lost people.  Now, what kind of parent would I be if I say that I believe the Bible (meaning Heaven is a reality, Hel

Is it possible to say too much about the cross?  As a preacher that possesses salvation purchased at the cross I do not believe it is possible.  Is that what is happening in this day?  I do not know.  I do not dare make a blanket comment regarding preaching or church life in general.  I do know, however, that the focus of the majority of preaching, books, and conference breakout sessions are not the Cross.  Social media workshops? Yes.  Public Proclamation of the glory of the Cross?  No. Some may say that it is understood that as Christians our focus is the Gospel message of salvation beginning with the atoning sacrifice at the Cross.  Sounds nice, but is it true?  Let me give you an example.  I have in front of me a brochure for an upcoming Baptist conference.  Here is a list of some of the so-called breakout sessions: 1.  Transformational Elements in Worship 2.  Beyond Bathrobes: Theater in Christian Education and Worship 3.  Contemporary Approaches to Stewardship 4.  Spiritua