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The Latest Preacher’s Pen Articles are BelowIt’s All in How You Say It
People are fascinating, aren’t they? A lot of folks will dodge a conversation even when the topic isn’t hard at all. Shame is usually what’s fogging up the windshield. Sometimes a little reframing of the words you use is all it takes to turn an awkward moment into an…
Nobody Carries Water Alone
Picture a church fellowship meal in the middle of a hard week. Somebody brought three casseroles because she figured somebody else would forget, a man who just lost his job is laughing at the dessert table, and the widow who almost stayed home is getting more hugs…
52 Things I Have Learned in 52 Years
Today I turned 52, and somewhere between the birthday cake and the reading glasses I need to read the candles, I got to thinking. Fifty-two years is a lot of living. I’ve preached for 30 of them, raised a family, made more mistakes than I can count, and learned…
Every Part Working
Some folks treat the church like a restaurant. You come in, you get served, and you leave a review on the drive home. The singing dragged on and on. The sermon ran too long. Nobody spoke to anyone in the foyer. Three stars. Paul had a different picture. Paul says…
The Measuring Stick
We love to measure ourselves against the folks around us. Somebody is always a little shorter than we are. Paul will not let us do that. The goal is “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The pencil mark…
Are You a Lost Bottle?
Have you ever thrown a bottle into the sea? Have you ever wondered how long it would take to find a bottle thrown into the sea? On February 23, 2019, Jim Duke and his wife, Candy, were walking along the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. During their walk, they…
Releasing the Burden of Shame
Shame is a silent weight many of us carry daily. It is the one that tells us we’re defined by our failures and keeps us from truly experiencing God’s grace. From the very start, shame entered the human story. When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God in the garden…
Gratitude Lessons from the Son Who Came Home
We all know what it feels like to wander. Sometimes, we lose sight of what we have until we find ourselves far from home, longing for the comfort and love we once knew. The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) isn’t just about mistakes and mercy; it’s a powerful…
Before You Post: The Power of Pause in a Loud World
Let’s be real for a moment. Social media is a powerful tool. It can connect us, inform us, and even inspire us. But it can just as quickly become a platform for mockery, foolishness, and even cruelty; especially when tragedy strikes or when emotions run high….
The Next Step: Why Spiritual Growth Takes Daily Choices
Coming up out of the waters of baptism marks an unforgettable moment. You are raised to walk in newness of life, cleansed and forgiven. It is easy to wonder: what comes next? This is where your journey begins, not where it ends. God has already provided everything you…