Identity theft and burglary
It has been a bad week for some of my Oklahoma friends. Last Friday I learned one of my friends had his wallet stolen, which included his social security card. Ironically I had just attended a...
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Thoughts on NOVA’s special – The Bible’s Buried Secrets
Today during my five hour car drive up to Kansas, I listened to a WGBH Forum Network podcast on the NOVA documentary The Bible’s Buried Secrets which aired this past week. As with several other NOVA...
View ArticleChoosing Legalism over Grace
Our church is currently in the midst of a series called “Real Life”. The focus is on daily living, what it looks like to be a Christian. It’s really a study on the book of Galatians. I bookmarked a...
View ArticleA Story of Faith from a World Class Rodeo Clown: Larry Minchey
The digital story “Minchey” by Shelly Gwyn Moffatt, created this week at our Celebrate Oklahoma Voices professional development workshop in Hugo, Oklahoma, tells the life story of rodeo clown Larry...
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Survey: 72% of Millennials ‘more spiritual than religious’
The USA Today article, “Survey: 72% of Millennials ‘more spiritual than religious’” caught my eye today. From the survey of US residents: Among the 65% who call themselves Christian, “many are either...
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Greyson Chance, YouTube, Lady Gaga, Paparazzi, Ellen and Jesus
Today in our fifth grade Sunday school class, we discussed Edmond 6th grader Grayson Chance and his experiences on the Ellen show Thursday. To start, the students brainstormed answers to three...
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Good resources and conversations about Christian parenting
I had an opportunity yesterday to attend the “Journey” Sunday School class at Liberty United Methodist Church in Liberty, Missouri. I attended with my sister and family. Their class is using the...
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Rotation Sunday School Locations
This is the rotating sign at First Methodist Church in Manhattan, Kansas, which shows which rooms different grades are in for Sunday School. This is on the wall just before you enter the youth hall, in...
View ArticleSurviving the Storms of Life Together
These are my notes from Tim and Ruthie Hast’s presentation, “Surviving the Storms of Life Together” at the Family Matters class on November 3, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. MY...
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How would you begin to respond to Fake Steve?
From time to time, I like to check in on the blog of the Fake Steve Jobs. Although I do not like and disapprove of his periodic use of profanity in his posts, much of what he writes is funny and on...
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Putting the Passage of Amendment 10-A for Christians Worldwide in Statistical...
Cross-posted from “Moving at the Speed of Creativity.” Back in August of 2006 I created the blog “Eyes Right” as a Christian team blog where I (and others) could share posts related to Christianity and...
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Apple, iTunes and the Pro-Homosexual Agenda
I noticed this evening Apple has created a leading category under “Music” in the iTunes Store named “Pride.” This category includes music and movies by homosexual artists and/or about homosexual...
View ArticleClear Teaching on the sin of homosexual behavior
These verses from the apostle Paul are clear and unequivocal concerning the sin of homosexual behavior. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of...
View ArticleConfess Sins Regularly
James exhorts us to normalize our confession of sins, and to confess our sins to each other so we can lift each other up in prayer. He reminds us that our prayers to God are powerful when we are...
View ArticleDiscipline In The Church & Our Relationships
Discussion of these verses led to a lot of comments today in our Sunday School class. As Amy Schulke pointed out, this passage does NOT say “If your brother or sister sins, treat them as you would a...
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Love is an Orientation: Session 1
These are my notes from the first evening of our new Wednesday evening adult study class at church, “Love is an Orientation.” We are principally using the book the book “Love Is an Orientation:...
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Session 2: Love is an Orientation
These are my notes from session 2 of our Wednesday night study at church based on Andrew Marin‘s book, “Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community” on January 16, 2013....
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Commenting Publicly About Our Church’s Congregational Vote
This afternoon I left the following comment on the January 25th NewsOK article, “First Presbyterian Church of Edmond set to take historic vote.” This comment went on the NewsOK article comment thread...
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Voting to Leave PCUSA and Join ECO
Last night our congregation voted 815 to 55, with 1 abstention, to leave the PCUSA denomination and join ECO. This is a panoramic photo of our sanctuary while we were waiting for the vote results. This...
View ArticleMore Notes from Philip DeCoursy
These are my notes from Philip DeCoursy’s evening sermon at our church today. He is a special guest pastor for a series of messages. The George Whitfield Society here in Oklahoma City brought him in...
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Lessons on Suicide Prevention from Rich Van Pelt
(cross-posted from Moving at the Speed of Creativity) This evening the four eldest members of our family attended a presentation about suicide prevention by Rich Van Pelt, a church youth leader from...
View ArticleHumble yourselves and Let There be Tears
These are verses that are probably not heard very often in sermons on Sunday. This is an exhortation that is both challenging and needed, however. So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and...
View ArticleThe Heart is the Tree & Words are Your Fruit
A powerful message from Pastor Robert Morris on the value and power of words. Here are some verses and key messages from this sermon. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with...
View ArticlePerseverance
This was part of our devotion Bible passage this morning at our Men’s Council meeting at Mo-Ranch near Hunt, Texas. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion...
View ArticleThe Tongue of Fire
These words from James, the half-brother of Jesus, remind me of a couple things today. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole...
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An Entrepreneurial Tipping Point
Update: Here’s part 2 (the ‘secular’ part): “Lessons Learned as an Educational Consultant (Oct 2013)” I’ve been wanting to write this post for months, but I haven’t felt I was ready. I’ve decided to...
View ArticleSeeking Allah, Finding Jesus
On February 9, 2014, Dr Nabeel Qureshi will present at our church in Edmond, Oklahoma, on his book, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity.” This is a 1.5 hour video...
View ArticleQuoting Lady Gaga in a Sermon
Our pastor shared this quotation from Lady Gaga today in his sermon, in the context of Genesis 3:1-7. As we began the conversation, Gaga spoke carefully in a very odd accent—some combination of...
View ArticleEncouraged by the story of Joseph
Today and last week I have been very encouraged by the story of Joseph and his brothers. This morning on my way to work I listened to the following verses: “Please, come closer,†he said to them....
View ArticleBringing Up Daughters of the King by Dan Liberto
These are my notes from Dan Liberto’s workshop, “Bringing Up Daughters of the King,” on May 3, 2014 at the Mo-Ranch Men’s Conference. thefreedomgirls.com – family discipleship ministry – objective is...
View ArticleJesus Called Him Simon Again
When Jesus called Simon to be His disciple, Jesus gave him a new name: Peter. In the garden of Gethsemane just before he was betrayed by Judas, however, Jesus called Peter by his former name once...
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God Rejoices With Us
Some great verses and thoughts about Christ and joy from our associate pastor, Matt Jones, this morning. Remember God rejoices with us: The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He...
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Comparing Translations of Romans 12:2
We are reading and studying Romans 12:2 in Sunday School today. This is one of my favorite passages of the Bible. The NIV version is the more familiar version: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and...
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Prayers for Joe Rightmyer
I shared this comment tonight on the Layman Online article, “PCUSA defrocks nationally recognized renewal leader.” Actions like this by the PJC of the PCUSA Denomination further disclose the spirit of...
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Our Bodies Are Temples for God’s Holy Spirit
Today’s sermon message focuses on how we should act and care for our own bodies, which are temples for God’s Holy Spirit. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,...
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A Fast to End Injustice and Oppression
From the verses in Isaiah I used last week for an Ash Wednesday sermon, starting the season of Lent: “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation...
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Zechariah Did Not Believe (initially) #sketchnote
I am flying tonight from Oklahoma City to Raleigh, North Carolina, to share three presentations at their statewide educational technology conference. I started re-reading the Gospel of Luke tonight,...
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God Never Abandons Us
These are our sermon verses today, which are important reminders about God’s faithfulness: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called...
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Narrated Sermon Sketchnote on Psalms 3
This is a sketchnote and narrated Sketchnote I created today in church as Lee Schmidt preached on Psalms 3: “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will...
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Sermon Sketchnote on Psalms 78:1-8
This is my narrated sermon sketchnote and sketchnote for today’s sermon by Jen Howat on Psalms 78:1-8 at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, Oklahoma. Key points were: Don’t hide God’s good news about...
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God Empowers Us to Serve Others Through Trials
Yesterday’s Sunday School lesson, as well as sermon, both focused on why we have pain and suffering in our world. These are tough topics for anyone to address. I was and am thankful to for the...
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Gospel Encounters: Sharing our Journey of Faith to Jesus
Today in our adult Sunday School class, continuing our focus on both historical and contemporary “Gospel Encounters” with Jesus, I shared my personal testimony as well as a framework for “Sharing our...
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Takeaways from Curt Gruel’s Presentation about Christian Faith from a...
Last Sunday during our “Curiosity and Questions: Jesus and Science” Sunday School class, Curt Gruel was our guest speaker. Curt is a very unique Christ follower. He was an orthopedic surgeon and the...
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Responding to Possibilianism & Dr. David Eagleman: Knowing & Authority Beyond...
As I’m continuing to teach and lead the class, “Curiosity and Questions: Jesus and Science” this year, I’m enjoying the YouTube recommendation engine (in moderation, of course) to help me discover...
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Responding to George Floyd as Christians
Last Friday (June 5th) I shared a short lesson at our Friday Morning Men’s Group meeting for our church, which continues to meet virtually (via Zoom) because of COVID-19. A 21 minute recording of my...
View ArticleGenetic Editing and BioEthics (3 July 2020)
This morning I shared the lesson at our Friday Morning Men’s Group for First Presbyterian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. Because of COVID-19, we continue to meet “virtually” via Zoom each week. I...
View ArticleThe Origins of the Universe – Free Will and Quantum Mechanics
On July 10, 2020, I shared a lesson on “The Origins of the Universe – Free Will and Quantum Mechanics” for our Friday Morning Men’s Group at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, Oklahoma, meeting...
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Called to an Inclusive & Affirming Church
God’s Holy Spirit is calling our family to join a Christian church congregation which is both inclusive and affirming. The past four months have been a time of transition for us, as I have continued...
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Charlotte Church Hunting (Sept 2022 Update)
As new residents of Matthews, North Carolina, and the Charlotte area, we are hunting for a new church. In this post, I’ll share about four of the churches we have visited so far, and some reflections...
View ArticlePrinceton Theology and Christian Fundamentalism
This is another ChatGPT 4 “theological and historical coaching” example today, in my continuing quest to better understand the historic roots and contemporary flavors of American Christian...
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