Beautiful Things

I’m loving this song right now.

Back to the Drawing Board

I’ve always tried to be honest on this blog, especially when it comes to my experiences in either trying to turn around an existing church, or more recently, trying to launch a new church in the North Austin area. If I’m being honest, it is much easier to be honest when things are going well. […]

Empire of the Summer Moon

I’ve written before about my love for Audible books. I usually listen to a couple a month, mostly while I’m doing chores around the house or driving around town and sometimes when I’m working out by myself. I like to listen to fast-moving guy fiction which serves up lots of spies, explosions, and geopolitical intrigue. […]

Feed Me!

Genre Alert: The following post is a rant. They were once popular among bloggers, but have since all but disappeared, with good reason I’m sure. ******* “We just want to be fed.” Every pastor has heard it from someone. Sometimes you catch it when they’re coming and sometimes when they’re going. It’s something that church-going […]

Advice to Young Preachers

Since I used to be one, I thought I would offer some unsolicited advice to young preachers. Stop writing sermons for people who aren’t in the room. For the first few years after seminary, preachers write sermons to please their former professors. The more successful they are in doing this, the less effective they are […]

I was a Preacher Once, and I was Young

I was a preacher once, and I was young. I’m still a preacher, but a couple of years ago I ceased to be a young one. If I had to pick an age, I would say it happened at 35. I preached my first full-length sermon when I was 18. I started preaching regularly for […]

Mispronouncing a Nice Funeral

Everyone hopes for a nice funeral, and with the exception of evil dictators, mass murderers, those who text while driving, and a few really annoying Sooner fans, I’d say just about everybody deserves one. You live a good life, put in your work, and endure your trials. You have every right to expect a nice […]

I Still Don’t Like August

Last year I posted about why August is my least favorite month. A year later, I haven’t changed my mind. Here’s why I still don’t like August: 1. The brightness of summer-come-upon-us in June is now dingy and dull. 2. I’m tired of the heat. 3. We usually vacation in June or July. Winter vacations […]

Why We’re Launching Weekly Gatherings

I’ve been encouraged by several readers to keep posting some of the things we’re learning from this experience of launching The Fulcrum Community. By nature I love to share what I’m learning, so I’m happy to do so. As I’ve written elsewhere, we’ve been hesitant to move too quickly into launching a weekly large group […]

The Funnel of Love

Here’s something that some of us at Fulcrum have been kicking around. I’d love your feedback. ****** As we’ve thought about our ministry strategy for Fulcrum, we’ve developed three environments and one exercise that are central to our pursuit of Christlikeness. 1. Large Group Worship Gathering: Primary purpose is worship and teaching. This is the […]