One of the strangest gifts I received on my 40th birthday was a magnifying glass. All jokes aside, it is interesting how many things you see differently through a magnifying glass. As a pastor, my default vantage point is one of telescopic proportions. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). So it takes work for me to “sweat the small stuff.” When things are going well or when a team has momentum on their side, poor performers … Continue reading →

There was a time, not long ago, when churches tried to minister to people as a single mass. No longer is this possible. Yet, Scripture makes it clear that unity must exist within a local flock of believers if we are to reach the maximum potential as a church who promotes the love of Christ to an unloving and lost world. Historically, four to five generations often exist together, interlaced in a particular moment of time: young, adult, mature, and … Continue reading →

We clearly do not treasure our children anymore. Solomon said our children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127). Yet our society demonstrates that our lethargy for young lives has become lethal. Personally, I deplore Russia’s ban on international adoption. Children need moms and dads, not institutions. We must pray for a change of heart for Putin. However, our disdain for children is not just an international ethic. The current debate in America over possibly removing the adoption tax … Continue reading →

Matt 1:18-19; John 1:1 Are you ready for Christmas? I am not asking whether you have finished shopping, but I am asking are you making personal preparation so that you can truly celebrate the birthday of the King. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we at Mobberly, will spend the next several weeks focusing on understanding the Love of God through the stories of those who would be considered unlovely. When we are reading the Bible, we tend to … Continue reading →

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. . . Your life is hidden with the Messiah in God (Colossians 3:1, 3) What we believe determines how we behave. There’s a grave danger in forgetting who you are. Spiritual amnesia seems to be an epidemic crippling many Christians. It doesn’t take long after a person gets saved that he begins to struggle with sin … Continue reading →

In Matthew 5:9 Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.” But elsewhere in Matthew 10:34 Jesus said, “I came not to bring peace but a sword.” It is clear that society has gone to great lengths to hijack words like tolerance, bullying, and hate speech. They twist these words to silence anyone with a Biblical worldview. The question then becomes, “when should we, as Christians, speak up?” Last month, the Democratic National Convention … Continue reading →

Finding the courage to initiate a spiritual conversation with a stranger is hard enough without the added pressure we put on ourselves – especially when we know we’re being watched. On a recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska for a speaking engagement, I was blessed to have my son, Luke (almost 6) accompanying me. In an unfamiliar city, host to many travelers and tourists, the opportunity to engage strangers is not difficult. During the 4 days, conversations occurred in tourist shops, … Continue reading →

One of my favorite songs from the band, Casting Crowns is “Jesus Friend of Sinners.” One of the most convicting sermons I’ve ever read from Charles Spurgeon was “The Friend of Sinners.” God uses multiple sources to remind me often of this theological tightrope. Jesus was a “people-person” when He walked among us. He was “the friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). He befriended the alienated, morally down and out people of His day. Will Rogers once said, … Continue reading →

A lady took my seat in church awhile back. lts not that important really. She is a very nice lady, kind and considerate. A good friend, in fact. There were several other seats available. I can sit any place. The people in our congregation are as friendly and caring as you will find any place in the world. A person should be comfortable sitting any place. It’s no big deal. My seat is in the seventh row back from the … Continue reading →

I enjoy the seasonal reminder that patriotic days bring to our minds. This July 4th was my first time to observe what kind of difference this date makes in another country – specifically England. The answer is: none. While it is the 4th of July in Britain, there is no notice of anything special. In fact, one British man I spoke with today, was annoyed I would even bring it up. He still blames America for weakening his homeland. It … Continue reading →