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Love…Endures All Things
Sabbath doesn’t always bring rest. And Easter doesn’t always remind me of resurrection. Sometimes, the message of Easter is simply, “endure.” Not the most hope-filled word, I know. But sometimes, it is all we can do. It was hard not …
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A Prayer for Gainesville
Like many of you, I’ve been heartbroken this week. It is hard to imagine Easter arriving by Sunday, but I was also reminded that heartbreak is our natural companion during Holy Week. Any words I could offer feel inadequate, but …
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Holy Week Carpets
When I lived in Honduras, the streets of the town would be decorated for Semana Santa, Holy Week. The long street up to the cathedral door was impossibly pocked with holes and rocks, and in the rainy season, normally sloshed …
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Between the World and Me
Supposedly Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote his book, Between the World and Me for his son. But I’m not sure that’s accurate. In fact, I’m pretty sure he wrote it for me. As I look back through my copy of Between the …
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Helping God Think
In the fall we completed an All-Church Survey that helped to discern three priorities the congregation has for the direction of our life together over the next three years. Those priorities named by UCG respondents to the Survey had to …
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“An ABCD”
This past Sunday I preached about the greatest birthday gift I ever gave myself. It was when I turned 40 years old, and I knew I wanted to do something epic. So I asked all of my friends the whole …
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Sacred Space
I have started taking the long way to get places. I don’t go too far off course, but if I can head a couple blocks in the wrong direction before I loop back toward home or the office, I’ll do …
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352 Walls
Over the past many months, artists from around the world have been transforming our city walls into giant works of art here in Gainesville, Florida. 352walls has transformed many of our downtown buildings into eye-catching, mind blowing and head scratching …
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Thank You!
Over the last few months I’ve been acutely awake to and aware of a phenomenon that is ever-present in my life–the goodness and dedication of volunteers. Here at UCG, Andy, Vince, and I have the privilege of working as resource …
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Hide it Under a Bucket, NO!
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” – Luke 33:11…
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So This is the New Year
When my father passed away the September before last (has it really been so long?), a good friend gave me a very special devotional book. I have read it often and more often than not the daily selections strike a …
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Worthy Resolutions
Truth be told, I make quite a few resolutions throughout the year. The many changes I intend cannot wait until the last day of December–so all year I need to offer myself “helpful” advice and make renewed commitments to change …