Saturday, MSMBC hosted a community day in which we prepared food, games, and information for our neighbors. I was a good time of meeting guests and fellowship with one another. Hat's off to our Transition Team for your hard and faithful work! Yesterday, was a long, good day. To be sure, it was full of adventure. But the Lord was gracious to me and helped me fulfill my assignments all day. I led the corporate singing portion of our service yesterday. I don't sing that often anymore. But I love to sing the praises of God. It is a wonderful...

I took an overnight trip Houston this week. Saturday afternoon, I flew into Houston to preach for Pastor Dennis Jones and the Gethsemane Baptist Church. It was the their Micah Ministry's (Young Adults) emphasis, with various events taking place over the weekend. And the young adults led the services on Sunday morning. This is my second time preaching at Gethsemane. And I was again blessed and encouraged by the worship and fellowship. Pastor Jones has proven to be a true friend to me since we met. And it is an honor to be invited to minister the word to his...

Happy Father's Day! I have been thinking about my father all day. I miss him. And I thank God for his continued influence in my life and ministry. My my called me to wish me a happy Father's Day. She reminded me that she loves me and is proud of me. It was really special for me to hear that from her today. H.B. and Natalie picked out my Father's Day gifts for the first time. I can tell which ones their mother did not help them select. But I loved the gifts they selected and the fact that they...

It was good to be home after several days away. I was rather tired Sunday, probably still adjusting time zones again. But the Lord gave me strength to preach. We have our first baptisms in our remodeled auditorium during our second service. Hallelujah! I continued our series on the beatitudes with a message on Matthew 5:7, which I called, "A Conspiracy of Kindness." I feel like I am finally getting into a rhythm with this new series of messages. And I can't wait to get to the pulpit next Sunday to preach on Matthew 5:8 - the pure in heart....

I have been in post-Sunday recovery today. It was a long, good weekend. My entire family went to church together for the first time - all five of us. Oh, what a feeling! I have never been a part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony before. So I don't know if I did it right. I just cut the ribbon, said, "Praise the Lord!" and rushed in to our remodeled auditorium so that we could worship God together. There were many guests, friends, and well-wishers present in both of our morning services. Always encouraging. I led the singing in our worship services...

Happy Memorial Day! I missed being in corporate worship with my own congregation yesterday. And I can't wait to get back to work this week. I spent this past weekend on the other side of the country. It was a grueling, but encouraging weekend. And I believe the Lord blessed the preaching of his word. I lost my voice during the first of my two messages yesterday. I was nervous. Not enough water. Not enough sleep. But it didn't really bother me during my second message like I thought it would. I had two long flights home last night. Thank...

Sorry that I have been missing-in-action over the past several days. I have been hanging out with Crystal. I have been holding my baby daughter. I have been unpacking my books. I have been adjusting to my new office. I have been wrestling through the Sermon on the Mount. I have been doing some pastoral care work. I have been in quite a few meetings. I have been... Well, you get the picture. It was a sweltering, mid-May day here in Los Angeles. I felt like I was going to melt today. I continued our study of the Beatitudes with...

Happy Mother's Day!!! I spent most of the weekend setting up my study in our administration building. H.B. and Natalie helped me to put up books Saturday afternoon. Cool. I talked to my mom early this morning. I called her to wish her a happy Mother's Day, and she ordered me to wish the mothers of MSMBC a happy Mother's Day on her behalf, since she could not be here today. I continued my study of the Sermon on the Mount with the second Beatitude (5:4). I called it, simply, "Those Who Mourn." I have only preached a Mother's Day...

We met at our new location for the first time yesterday. The congregation's joy and enthusiasm was very encouraging. I praise the Lord for all that he is doing in and through Mt. Sinai Church. I am blessed to serve such a wonderful congregation. Thank you to all of you who serve in our church in any way. You are the ones that make it happen! God bless you. I began my series on the Sermon on the Mount. I started with the first beatitude on the poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3). I called it, "The Poor in Spirit." (Sorry,...

I preached my last sermon at 1800 S. Gramercy Place yesterday. Our congregation has purchased new facilities. And we will begin meeting there this coming Sunday, God willing. Praise the Lord! But I had to first get past the overwhelming task of preaching this last sermon and leading this last service. For the most part, the service was a normal Lord's Day Worship Service at MSMBC. We did not do a lot of special elements. I did not want there to be the spirit of a funeral in the service. This place of worship means a lot to so many...

'- Yesterday was our next to last worship service at our Gramercy location, where Mt. Sinai Church has met for about 40 years. This coming Sunday will be our last service there. While we praise God for the new facilities he has given us, it is sad to leave a place of meeting that has meant so much to so many of us for so many years. - I preached a message from Mark 14:3-9. I called it, "Expressing your Devotion to Jesus." The point of the message is that you should do express your devotion to Jesus the best...

'- Easter Sunday at MSMBC. It is always a special time. Today was no exception. What a great day! - Today was the first time in some weeks that I preached multiple services. It is what I have done for years now. And I found myself getting into a groove quite easily, like the whole riding a bike thing. - This is the third week I have preached with sinus problems and cold symptoms. I have not really felt up to preaching the past several weeks. And it was discouraging to be feeling this way on Easter weekend. But the...