What Is Keystone?
I am the pastor of a 105 year old church that was once the largest Methodist congregation in Missouri.
I am also the pastor of a 2 year old church that has become one of the fastest-growing congregations in Missouri.
But here's the thing: these churches share the same building, and they operate under the same 501(c)3 designation. After years of...
September 3, 2012 - 3:04 pm
Need
The other day I came across an old journal I kept as a kid. Between pages filled with 1992 Houston Astros starting lineups and love letters I wrote but never sent to a girl named Lauren, I devoted an entire page to five words:
Jesus is all I need.
I was struck by how much my faith has changed over the years. I would never write or say something like...
April 23, 2012 - 10:04 am
Wanda Says Hi
She sat in her room and cried. At 90 years old, she's lived a full life. The pictures along the walls are a testament to her love of family. She's proud of who she is and the legacy she is leaving behind. But Wanda is afraid and lonely.
As her pastor, I knelt in front of Wanda and asked her to give me a message to pass along to the church. ...
April 12, 2012 - 10:19 am
Sick Waiting
I'm sitting in the Sick Waiting Room with my son. That's what they call it. Sick Waiting. That's where all the symptomatic runts go with their snotty noses and pink eyes. That's also, apparently, where they put all the second-run waiting room toys. I guess they think sick kids aren't good enough for their best toys. Granted, most of what goes on in Sick Waiting involves weeping, wailing, and...
March 23, 2012 - 9:33 pm
Be Healed
Six weeks ago I sat in a church meeting, paralyzed by pain. I have a herniated disc in my lower back, and it is forced against the sciatic nerve. The best words I have to describe this condition are all four-lettered.
The topic of that meeting was intercessory prayer. Like good intellectuals, we sat in a circle and talked about how nice it is to pray for...
February 27, 2012 - 9:30 pm
Worship: Why Bother (Part Four)
On Sunday morning, my churches gathered for worship in century-old buildings. Revolution/Westport UMC dates back to 1836 and just celebrated its 175th birthday. Redemption/Broadway UMC began in 1907 and just turned 104.
We sang hymns that were written in the 8th, 13th, and 18th Centuries (Be Thou My Vision, All Creatures of Our God and King, and Come Ye Sinners...