Dysfunctional is a colorful word when applied to family and church. It doesn’t take much scratching to get below the facade of a perfect family. At some…… Read more “Beautiful Dysfunction”
Author: Dr. Gary Sorrells
Hermewhat?
I am convinced we create vocabulary to communicate with insiders. Have you ever listened to a doctor describe what’s wrong with your body? They naively believe communication…… Read more “Hermewhat?”
Perfectly United – No Big Deal
When I climb under my rock to focus again on reality, I stand amazed at my ingrained value system. I am constantly surprised at what I salute…… Read more “Perfectly United – No Big Deal”
Friends Not Guest
Friends Not Guest By Gary J. Sorrells Today is Sunday. If you attended worship this morning, I bet you saw it. Although, it is so routine you…… Read more “Friends Not Guest”
Quilt, Mosaic, & Church
I saw a quilting frame. Having grown up prior to malls and Wal-Mart, the Sears catalogue was a big deal—although it was mostly for looking. Other than…… Read more “Quilt, Mosaic, & Church”
Blueprint Living and Church
When I relapse into keeping commandments, I get into trouble. It is a shallow way to live. My problem is I select the commandments that I believe…… Read more “Blueprint Living and Church”
Losing Jesus at Church
Attending church as a little tyke included recreation. While the older folks visited and talked about whatever older folks talk about—the church property became my playground. When…… Read more “Losing Jesus at Church”
Movement or Master
I don’t like to think about it in these terms but I can’t get around it—my DNA originates from both a movement and the Master. First, I…… Read more “Movement or Master”
First Generation Church
The New Testament provides little structural information about its first generation church. There are no details like those given to Noah to build his boat. There are…… Read more “First Generation Church”
I’m Right – You’re Wrong – God Loses
Right is always right. Especially if it is my opinion, right becomes even “righter.” What if my verbal opponent is wrong, but is certain—beyond a shadow of…… Read more “I’m Right – You’re Wrong – God Loses”
Practicing Division
I am an expert in practicing division. I am a child of the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, the vocabulary of division is deep in my DNA. Like…… Read more “Practicing Division”
Flakes and Snowflakes
Dandruff appears on dark clothes as flakes. Flakes of bread and cereal are crumbs. Old paint causes flakes to fall from walls. To describe a person as…… Read more “Flakes and Snowflakes”
Cross-Church
I suspect the Godhead sees no reason to place an adjective before church. Church is church. On earth, it is the assembly of faulty believers, and in…… Read more “Cross-Church”
Just Me
“A Christian is someone who thinks nobody else is.” I never met Wells Farnham—a co-founder of John Stott Ministries USA—however, I do appreciate his wry sense of…… Read more “Just Me”
Make Your Vision Go Viral
Make Your Vision Go Viral: Taking Christ to Great Cities – A Proven 5-Step Plan that Really Works Christ’s final words set out His eternal vision and…… Read more “Make Your Vision Go Viral”
Is God Detail Compulsive?
Detail people drive me crazy. As somewhat of a detail person, I give myself some slack. However, when it comes to dealing with people who score 25…… Read more “Is God Detail Compulsive?”
Why the Fighting
I don’t remember the television product. I do remember the advocates would “rather fight than switch.” Ok. I just looked it up. It was 1960s Tareyton Cigarette smokers.…… Read more “Why the Fighting”
Baptizing Satan’s Gourds
I like the fruits. The letter to first century Galatian Christians lists faithfulness as a fruit of the Spirit along with the eight fruits of love, joy,…… Read more “Baptizing Satan’s Gourds”
Radient, Holy, Blameless
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a…… Read more “Radient, Holy, Blameless”
Gifted
On a photo shoot in the great city of Brasilia, my lighting guy plugged the bank of Photo Spot Lights into the wall, and with a blinding…… Read more “Gifted”
Railroad and Church
The one church is two. When living in Brazil, our team constructed a two-track model as key to planting churches. We envisioned the model like a railroad…… Read more “Railroad and Church”
Coming Soon!
Make Your Vision Go Viral: Taking Christ to Great Cities – A Proven 5-Step Plan that Really Works Christ’s final words set out His eternal vision…… Read more “Coming Soon!”
Let’s Call a Truce
I am a member of a fellowship of churches who have fought for over a hundred years. They are my people. They are my family. We are…… Read more “Let’s Call a Truce”
Jesus and Church
The 21st century North American church encounters a landscape of confused observers. It is in our culture where the young and not so young chant, “Jesus yes!…… Read more “Jesus and Church”
Epilogue
For the past months we looked afresh at our incredible God. We saw His creative power and attempted to understand His love for humankind and the dream He…… Read more “Epilogue”
Home at Last
It is good to be home. As a lifelong road warrior, I have uttered that statement to my wife and children countless times. Roadwork is weary work.…… Read more “Home at Last”
Garden Neighbors
I think of Christian brothers and sisters who are not my favorite people. I am in complete agreement with them on the death, burial, and resurrection of…… Read more “Garden Neighbors”
God’s Garden
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. – Jesus Paradise—what a happy…… Read more “God’s Garden”
God Wins – Satan Loses
God did it. Like His Track Record, He kept His promise. On God’s Big Day, the struggle for man’s allegiance will cease. Christ’s murder on a cross…… Read more “God Wins – Satan Loses”
The Big Day
It was December 7, 1941. The surprise was complete. No one saw it coming. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the unsuspected attack on Pearl Harbor as “a date…… Read more “The Big Day”
I Will Be Changed
After the meltdown—I will be changed. Can you imagine the pure joy of living in a perfect body? Until then, no one is ever handsome or beautiful…… Read more “I Will Be Changed”
God’s Meltdown
The Hebrew people had it wrong. From their history, their culture, and their limited reality they awaited an earthly king. I suspect their interpretation of lions and…… Read more “God’s Meltdown”
God and Me
Were I the only one going, would I have courage to follow? A couple of days ago, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was on the “remember when”…… Read more “God and Me”
Forever
“. . . the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will…… Read more “Forever”
Travel Prep
Travel is an intimate companion. Together—travel and I—racked up a million miles on one airline, most likely a million miles on the joint use of other airlines,…… Read more “Travel Prep”
Garden Press Release
If I were God—how would I describe the Eternal Garden? How can God describe His celestial reality to me, a mere bug, who fails and struggles with…… Read more “Garden Press Release”
Pages Alive
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. –…… Read more “Pages Alive”
God’s Book
Not long ago my old professor and friend Neil Lightfoot died. What a great man. Surely, when the Apostle John lived, his voice must have sounded like…… Read more “God’s Book”
God’s Breath
There Adam lay. He was perfect. From his full head of hair to his big toes, he was a sculpture tooled by the creator. Yet, there he…… Read more “God’s Breath”
God’s Word
God Said. Scripture starts with a song. Its lyrics speak of creation. Its lyrics give me my beginning understanding of God’s power. It is my first introduction…… Read more “God’s Word”
Spirit Poor
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” – Jesus Christ At first glance to desire a poor famished spirit does not sound like a worthy goal. Why would…… Read more “Spirit Poor”
Illegal Alien
I worship an illegal alien. Back when I was learning how to live in a foreign country, I learned a word and a concept to help with…… Read more “Illegal Alien”
Bedrock Life
My dad built houses and church buildings as a contractor. I still remember watching the construction crew reach the bedrock to pour the concrete foundation. In the…… Read more “Bedrock Life”
Forever Friend
God was present when Dr. Pate whacked me on the rear in the delivery room, and I spat out my first cry while sucking into my body…… Read more “Forever Friend”
Conservative God – Not
Conservative is a dull and lifeless word. It speaks of caution. Never do I associate conservative with risk. As the youth say—it is “boring.” In youth language,…… Read more “Conservative God – Not”
Learning Compassion
Like a balloon, my soul must inflate with compassion to function. Unlike a balloon, my soul will not burst from over inflation. When I reflect on God,…… Read more “Learning Compassion”
God and Tradition
Traditions serve as glue to honor value. I think of the wonderful traditions that pay homage to the things we value. The tradition of a birthday cake—with…… Read more “God and Tradition”
Cross Visits
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) describes the enormous challenge some face to focus on any given task. To a degree, we all experience Attention Deficit Disorder. Activity and…… Read more “Cross Visits”
Mysterious God
I worship a mysterious God. Where did God come from? Why does He need Angels? How could the “I Am who I Am,” possibly need a human…… Read more “Mysterious God”
God Reflection 