Urgency

With a church the size of Covenant, communicating clearly and effectively to everyone is a big challenge. We are always striving to find the best mode of communication to get important information to you, as well as the most effective time and place to share it. It’s probably a bigger problem than you realize! Read more »

Our Neighbors

As we’ve been working through this current sermon series, I’ve noticed that I have been reading the story of the Good Samaritan very differently. I’ve been reading it personally. I hope you have too. It is not enough to shoot for loving God with all your heart if your eyes stay closed to the people around you that He loves too. Part of loving God is loving our neighbors.

As a church, we’ve been asking ourselves the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Over time, we’ve discerned the Holy Spirit leading us to focus our neighborly efforts in three places: West Greenville, the Dominican Republic and our Main Campus.

This weekend, we’ve prepared an innovative worship experience to take you to all three of these strategic locations via our fictitious CovenantAir. Read more »

Humbled

If you were here this past weekend, you got to witness a clear God-moment.

Not that the other three weeks of our “No Regrets” series haven’t been powerful, but I, like many of you, were blown away as hundreds of people during the weekend remained in their seats instead of taking communion. People took me up on the challenge to bypass receiving the elements this month until they could make a relationship right, forgive someone who had hurt them, or at least, “as far as it depends on us…make every effort” possible to repair brokenness in a relationship.

I talked to dozens of people. They all have stories similar to these (paraphrases): Read more »

Mustard Seed

Again Jesus said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 (NIV)

Apparently Jesus understood the power of a small contribution. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a tiny, little mustard seed. It starts small and then becomes a tall and powerful tree. You might remember that Jesus said if our faith is even the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Read more »

Lessons

When I woke up on Friday, I knew something was up with my throat. I had not been sneezing or coughing. I didn’t have a runny nose. In fact, I felt fine, but I could feel my throat closing up on me.

AND, it just got worse. I talked with people at the Four:Twelve Event with Tom and Betty Tyndall on Friday night, but by the next morning I was struggling to talk. I gargled with saltwater, drank hot tea and water almost all day, but by the time I got to church, I was hardly able to speak. Somehow, I got through it.

Sunday, though, was worse. Read more »

A Weekend to Remember

A few years ago, Teff and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary by attending a Weekend to Remember gathering in another city. We realized we hadn’t been away alone together since having children. For us, it seemed like there was always a little one in the house to tend to, home school to teach or church work for me to do that continued to prevent it. Finally, however, the time was right, and off we went for four days!

Weekend to Remember is sponsored by a ministry called Family Life, but it’s like many other marriage enrichment weekends. You and your spouse get away together in order to spend time talking and working on your marriage. An experienced couple also leads the sessions, which are both humorous and inspirational.

I must say, that weekend was awesome for us! Our marriage wasn’t necessarily in trouble, but we understood that every marriage can use intentional effort. After our experience, I began then to think about what a delight it would be for Covenant to host such a marriage enrichment event. Guess what? The time has come! Read more »

Waving Gifts

It’s one of the most unusual stories in the whole Bible. Moses has led the children of Israel, God’s people, out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and out into the desert on their way to the Promised Land of Canaan. On their way, they camp at Mt. Sinai, and God gives Moses the 10 commandments along with instructions for how the people are to live and worship as God’s chosen people.

One of the instructions is to build a Tabernacle, a dwelling for God and a place of worship. Moses announces that anyone who is willing can give to the building of God’s house. Exodus 35 reports that “all who were willing” gave from what they had. People were thrilled to give a gift to the Lord from what they had: gold, silver, jewelry, expensive clothes, gemstones, spices, olive oil, and perfumes. People wanted to thank God for his provision in their lives, and for the journey so far, and mostly, they wanted to bless God with gifts.

The amazing part of the story is that the people gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop. That’s right; the Bible actually says that Moses had to restrain the people from giving. That is hard to imagine, isn’t it? Read more »

Hole in One!

My disc golf small group meets every Sunday afternoon in the back parking lot. We have about 30 people signed up, so each week we have a fair number of men and women come out and play.

Sunday was a special day. I started us with our regular devotion time. We are in the process of naming each one of our golf holes with scripture. This Sunday’s reference for #6 was Genesis 1:31, “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Our sixth basket is the one that you can see from Old Firetower Road near the gravel road entrance. It’s an average length throw for a right-handed disc golfer. Everyone knows that with a good toss, there is a chance for birdie.

I ended up in the last group this week. Our group of six included a husband and wife team, a couple of newer players, and another guy who has been in our group since we started it last year. When we reached the sixth tee, it was John’s turn to throw first. Most of us were talking and not really paying attention to John’s throw until we heard his disc hit the chains. John yelled, “I think it hit the chains!” You can’t see the basket from the tee on #6; it’s hidden by the pine trees. So, we all ran to look and see where John’s shot landed. Read more »

Doulos

I was up early this morning reading my Bible, and I came across the writer’s description of himself: a slave of Jesus Christ. Now, the Greek word doulos can mean servant. I like the word servant. I like thinking of myself as a servant of Jesus. I like the thought that I am helping Him bring in his Kingdom on earth. I like thinking that I’m choosing to offer some of my time in assisting Him.

Being his slave is a totally different matter. Slaves have no rights. Slaves have no choice.  Slaves are useful only as they offer unquestioned obedience to their master. Saying that I am a slave of Jesus means I understand completely that my work on this earth is to carry out what He says while constantly in His service. Read more »

Totaled

About a month ago, a young woman came weaving up our street and sideswiped our daughter’s black Volkswagen Beetle. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but both cars were rendered undriveable. The police came, filled out a report, and we waited for the other insurance company to contact us.

No one called. The car just sat on the street outside our house for five days. Finally, an adjuster did call and said the company would tow it to the body shop of our choice. I thought to myself, “Good. Now we’re getting somewhere!” Boy, was I wrong! Read more »