First Thoughts

My congregation sings better than they did a year ago. I’ve been their worship leader for a little more than a year, and I’ve seen progress in their participation in worship through singing. They sing louder, they sing more heartily, and more of them sing than they did a year ago. This realization occurred to me as I was reading an article on the decline of congregational singing, and it caused me to wonder why we’re not part of the trend. Here are 10 things I did not do over the past year that…

The Inevitability of Difficult Conversations In 2015, I started my own business. Starting this business came with all the fun and exciting experiences one would expect: the thrill of unlimited possibilities, the grind of “find a way or make a way, ” and the freedom of being one’s own boss. But it wasn’t long until the harder and less thrilling realities came along – the greatest of these being uncomfortable and difficult conversations. Suddenly, I found myself having to tell team members, “Your…

The plane ride was a short two hours, but it appeared to be taking forever. I had just flown back from this city the week before, but now I was unexpectedly returning for a reason that would change my world forever.  The night before, I finished putting the final touches on my Sunday school lesson for the next morning when the phone rang. It was my sister.  She said there had been an accident.  My mother had choked on dinner; she was now unconscious, on a ventilator, and things looked very grim…

In Psalm 73, Asaph writes about things that confuse him about this life. Specifically, he complains about how wicked people seem to get away with their wickedness and are even rewarded for it. While he has tried to be a devoted follower of God, it has not gotten him anything good. In fact, he has experienced hardship and ridicule for it. This can’t be fair… Until he went to the worship service! This helped him because he didn’t need a change of circumstances; he needed a change of perspective…

Join Pastor Heath Lambert and Associate Pastor Sean Perron as they share their personal journeys through unexpected medical challenges and the spiritual lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re currently facing a health crisis, walking alongside someone who is, or simply want to prepare spiritually for challenges that may come, it is our prayer that this conversation offers you practical encouragement. The video includes the following questions: 1:30 – What is your medical situatio…

There could be more at stake than you realize. A teen you’ve known their whole life approaches you and says, “I have a question I’ve been wanting to ask you.” A friend you’ve gone to church with for years says, “Something has been bothering me and I want to know what you think.” I’ve learned that sometimes a question is more than just a question and statements like these deserve my full attention. People often express their questions as curiosities, but underneath lies a growing seed of doubt…

I am currently in the middle of fighting for my life. Last August, I was diagnosed with stage-four cancer and given a treatment plan that cures 90% of patients with my condition. Unfortunately, the cancer attached to my lung increased during my five months of chemotherapy instead of shrinking, which surprised everyone. I am now entering a new phase of treatment that will be more intense. In this new season of obstacles, what should I do? What does the Bible say? The Bible tells us to pray when…

The Spotify Top Ten and Discipleship According to Spotify’s most recent report, there are 675 million monthly users. The music streaming service is particularly popular with young people, with an estimated 62% of these users falling within the 18–34-year-old age bracket. Because Spotify is ubiquitous among teens and young adults, the weekly Top Ten Chart functions as a “pulse check” on youth culture. What are their favorite songs? What are the songs about? What does this tell us about their val…

My wife and I have two young boys. One of the things that means is that we spend a lot of time reading stories about knights defeating dragons. When I read these stories with my boys, wonderful things happen. They grow a desire to be brave, courageous, and honorable like knights, and they grow a disdain for the evil that dragons represent. But occasionally, the fictional worlds that we’ve read about can start to take on a life of their own in my boys’ minds. In the darkness of the night, the sw…

The Land of the Wealthy In Nocatee, Florida, the average household income approaches $200,000 a year. Most families own their homes, drive nice cars, take memorable vacations, and have access to top-tier education. On any given day, you’ll see families cruising in designer golf carts, headed to a luxury water park built just for them. Welcome to a land of the wealthy. That means I pastor at a church filled with people whom the world would consider “rich.” Many of our members are doctors, surgeo…