12/10/2019
I wish each of you a very Merry and safe Christmas! On the Journey, Quincy
11/20/2019
Earlier this week, I had a Thanksgiving Breakfast. Ok, so it's not what you think: there wasn't turkey and dressing (and yes, for the record, it is dressing and not stuffing!) Instead, I had breakfast with Diane Vaughan (President) and Ed Tomlinson from the Wesley Woods Foundation. After discovering the many connections that we shared between the three of us, both Diane and Ed wanted to say thank you to the churches in the ADOX for your support of the Mother's Day Offering. I even ...
10/30/2019
Sunday will be a busy day. It will be the last of our 5 Zone Charge Conferences. It is also Daylight Savings Time, the time that we turn our clocks back an hour. It's also All Saints Day, the day where our churches will recognize the legacies of the "saints" who passed away during the year. Finally, Sunday will be the day that Popeyes Chicken will bring back its chicken sandwich. You remember the so-called sandwich wars over the summer, don’t you? Whether you are a fan of Popeyes' chicken ...
10/16/2019
It’s mid-October, and this means that it is Pastor Appreciation Month! I invite your church to drop a note of appreciation to your pastor. Here are five suggestions from Lovett Weems’ article, “Showing Appreciation for Your Pastor” from his Leading Ideas newsletter: 1. Pray for them. Prayer helps you and your clergy leaders understand your partnership in ministry and your mutual dependence on God. 2. Respect them. It would be best if you didn't talk to them in ways you would ...
10/2/2019
Autumn is finally here. Well, at least that's what it says on the calendar. The sun missed the memo and still believes that it's supposed to shine 90-degree summer heat. Let’s hope, for our lawn’s sake, that there’s relief around the corner where the sun catches up to the calendar! Despite the heat, it's October, and that means it's time for church fall festivals, Trunk or Treat, and BBQ! Of course, some anniversaries and revivals also fill our calendars. But for most of us, the ...
9/11/2019
Does your church have an intentional discipleship path? Do you have a process for helping people follow Jesus daily? Does your church's culture hold up expectations for people becoming disciples to make new disciples? If you're like many churches, other than having a Bible Studies and small groups, chances aren't good that the average person in your congregation has ever thought about what it would mean for them to make disciples. Perhaps you're reading this and thinking about your church. Is ...
8/27/2019
There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch. Hare ran down the road for a while and then paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, “How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?” Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, “There is plenty...
8/7/2019
3D Journey A Whale of A Rescue A few weeks ago, during our time at Georgia Pastors School, Dionne and I took time to visit St. Simons Pier. It had been a while since we had a chance to visit the pier together. Surprisingly, on this particular evening, finding a parking space was unusually difficult. As we walked a couple of blocks to the dock, we noticed flocks of people, more people than usual milling around. Oddly, the crowds stood around like a human barrier reef between ...
7/24/2019
What are the questions that your church is seeking to answer? For several congregations, this might sound like an odd thing to ponder. For others, this question can feel a bit off-putting since “everyone knows that our churches are friendly and welcoming.” If you haven't considered the question, I don’t think that you’re alone. I wonder if most churches stop long enough to ask this or any other type of inquiring question that doesn’t require a yes or no response. All of this is for a good ...
7/10/2019
3D Journey The Mayo Experience Last week marked the seven-year check up on my second kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic. I'm thrilled that my check-up was a successful one. I’m still praising God that my eighth biopsy (number four on the second kidney) showed no signs of rejection! This report was critical because my body began to reject my first transplant back in 2008. While it's not something that I’ve written about in this forum, my kidney transplant is always in the ...