What Robs Your Joy?
I have been to mountain top...for a bit. I have dwelled in the valley...the darkest of valleys. In both places I have found joy. Being surrounded by loved ones as I watched my bride walk down the aisle for our blessed wedding day I could have exploded. Seeing...
A Hurricane is Coming
A hurricane is coming. Irma is bearing down on the good (well, and bad I guess) folks of Florida. It may just be the strongest ever to come from the Atlantic. People are preparing the best way they know how. Stores are selling out of everything. Things that could...
It Could Happen…
Years ago for a quick minute, ESPN had a commercial campaign entitled, "It could happen, so you'd better watch." They would show great, unsuspected moments in sports where if you weren't watching, you wouldn't have seen something amazing. The campaign lasted just a...
The Enemy
With the recent tragic events in Charlottesville, I have been asked that as a Pastor if I will take a stance against racism. So, here goes. I'm against racism. Ok, let's move on. There's a lot of confusion about what happened this past weekend (and to a degree in...
Yes, A List
The battle between parent and child re: screens is horrific. We can never underestimate the influence we have on other people. We also cannot fret over the same thing. I have met some folks in recovery from addiction lately. When done right, they come through...
Why Am I Crying?
The event is called unWined. It is a fundraiser for the pediatric oncology hematology (cancer) division of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. I was blessed at speaking at the first one 6 years ago and again last year. To date, they have raised just under 1 million...
Stop Saying This!
You had a bad day. You're beat up. Your boss gave you the "what for." You were hurt. You were let down. No one came to your defense. You're sick. You're broke. Your dog ate your cat. Your kid ate your dog. Your house got hit by a meteor, twice. You get a...
THAT hurts!
As a Pastor, you live a bit under the microscope. I get that. I put a magnifying glass over the microscope in how I live so much "out there." Whether it be this website, social media, or just living so publicly, I put myself in a very visible lifestyle. I'm cool...
One Thing
What can you count on? Really? What is stable for you? What is it that will be there for you forever, never failing, always consistent? What do you value? What is it that takes up the bulk of your time/attention/focus? Where do you turn when things don't go your...
Respect
There many ways to love people. A very simple way to love someone is to meet their needs. There are 4 basic types of needs that people have. Physical needs are things like food, water and shelter. You can love people in this manner by working in a soup kitchen,...
He’s Not Supposed to be Here
Joe, my son, is on a trip with another local church. He is in South Dakota. He is seeing Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, the Badlands, farms, mountains and so much more. My niece is on the trip as well. The other day my brother-in-law asked me how bad I was...
Transitions
It is summer. The season so many of us yearn for throughout the dreary and occasionally bitter days of winter. Finally, school is out and there is time to do everything. Days into it the weather is not "summery" and "everything" has been replaced with "there is...
Impending Doom
The phone rings...what could it be? What has happened? Who is in need? Who is angry? What did I not know about? Did I miss something? Car wreck? Someone ill? The possibilities are endless. What was that pain? Heart attack? Gas? Was that a lump? Is that a...
I Appreciate…
Sometimes it's just good to focus on the positive. Sometimes that's hard. Sometime's it really pays off to look for the good...in the bad. Maybe it's a discipline that the more you do it the better you'll be at it. Well, sometimes is always and maybe is for sure....
What Have You Lost?
I was in Austin Texas learning all about emotional needs and emotionally focused therapy. You can't do that without looking inward. I was told that my self-condemnation was "alarming" (thank you very much, I'm quite remarkable). Self-condemnation is a by product of...
This Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
This picture popped up on my Facebook memories today. It is one of my most favorite pictures of Trey. If you look into his eyes you see an entire story. He has the eyes of a wise old man, seeing more than 3 year old could/should ever fathom. No hair, body...
You Read Me, but to Listen to Me…
Just a quick note. If you would like to hear my sermons from each Sunday, well, come to Faith Community Church! However, if that isn't feasible, you can just go to our website and listen to it there... http://www.faithchurchph.org/sermon-audio/ In the past they have...
I’ve Never Been So Disrespected!
Heard that before? Said that before? Sadly, being disrespected in our world today is nothing new. It seems that more and more I hear people saying, "Don't disrespect me!" Why that is could be many reasons. Perhaps we're living in a more rude society. Maybe with...
Jay Mitlo
Author of Stand