Some things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. I used to think if I wasn’t at every event it would look like I wasn’t on top of things or could get accused of showing favoritism or whatever. I just don’t care anymore. I can’t be out [...]
Read More attendance, cost, families, family, father, husband, leaders, parent, priorities, responsibility, successSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. So you hate this guy’s tattoos or that guy’s hair. So what? So you’re convinced that every accomplished Greek Scholar at Dallas Theological Seminary is wrong and misread the Bible when it said Jesus made wine and not [...]
Read More alcohol, criticize, dallas, debate, desire, divisive, grape, greek, Jesus, juice, opinions, people, priorities, scholar, seminary, theological, wineSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. In the ministry where I used to serve, I didn’t have gigantic staff or budget (by Dallas Megachurch standards, let alone Western NY), and I didn’t hide in a dark room at 2:00am to stare lustfully at the websites [...]
Read More churchgoers, consumerism, consumers, Jesus, prioritiesSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. I just don’t want to do this. Folks, all this that we do: it isn’t about us, or you, or me. Live with this as a core value and I’m not sure you’ll be playing victim nearly as [...]
Read More controversy, core, dissension, division, Jesus, needy, priorities, value, whiningSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. I get email from a lot of people. Occasionally I get email from some really weird people. I’ve read email demanding I convert to another religion, email about our music, email about how we should or shouldn’t do things from strangers, and [...]
Read More anger, arguing, argument, music, people, priorities, religion, unhealthy, weirdSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. Some churches have a cool band to lead worship. Some do straight up hymns with a full choir & orchestra (I worked at a church that did this really well in their earlier service). Some will try an unfortunate blend of everything [...]
Read More choir, church, excellence, Jesus, leaders, music, musical, orchestra, personal, preference, priorities, talent, venues, worship, youngSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. I used to believe that the more I did what God wanted, the more “opportunity” He would give me. The problem is this is only kind of true. He does tend to give me opportunities more and more. [...]
Read More charlie, corwds, fame, important, Jesus, opportunity, platform, priorities, sheen, stageSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. Life is no video game. I’m not scoring points or gaining levels and special abilities as I go. I’ve learned that as a pastor, there is a temptation to have something more impressive to say, or claim, or [...]
Read More fame, impressed, Jesus, pastor, priorities, statusSome things in this world used to be really important to me; now I have new priorities. I spent so much of my life stuck in a proverbial “Costume Party” trying to wear the right philosophical outfit in front of the right people. I’m me. I’m working continuously to be conformed to the image of Christ, and [...]
Read More Christ, confidence, conformed, fake, image, Jesus, life, personality, philosophy, priorities, style, unique, workHere is my second installment of “Things That Didn’t Matter To Me That Now Do (Part 2).” For a complete picture, you also need to see Part 1, and Part 3 as well as my Top 10 List of Things I Don’t Care About Anymore (Part 1 and Part 2). 2. Sleep: Two kids will do that to you. As [...]
Read More church, Jesus, maturity, organized, parenting, plan, planning, priorities, sleep, systems