Graduation or Commencement?
“Why is graduation called commencement?” I remember learning that graduation sounds like a finish line, while commencement is a starting line. ...
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We have seen this forecast before
Training to become a pilot (in what seems like another lifetime ago) I was quickly taught that you cannot control what is outside the cockpit. You can only prepare on how you could respond. Metaphorically it has proven to be an outstanding life lesson if you substitute “your heart” for “cockpit.”...
What have you earned? And what have you been given?
Many years ago, an older pastor, Dick Kaufmann, spent time with me, helping me grasp Grace. Counterintuitive does not even begin to capture my experience. Many of our natural instincts are put totally out of sorts by the LORD’s ways, especially our motivations for performance and earning. ...
What are you inclined to trust for meaning and purpose?
What is the earliest motivation you can recall in your life? When can you remember being really motivated (or deeply frustrated if you had failed) toward a goal or an outcome?...
Hospitality, Trinity and You
In our first year as a church plant, we went for training at a sister church plant that was several years ahead of us in its ministry....
Is Christ your righteousness?
After being assigned to teach the book of Romans to illiterate monks in his monastery, Martin discovered the Gospel of Grace by faith alone. What reverberated from this work of God in his heart has literally transformed all of Western history and much of the known world....
Under the Influence ...
In what seems like another lifetime, I trained to be a private pilot. I loved every chance to be in a cockpit....
How is your new year beginning?
Whether it is an unpleasant anniversary of a Capital riot, or a virus that just won’t go away, or profound uncertainty overall, how is your new year starting?...
Empty Pews Are an American Public Health Crisis
In school, I was never a fan of having to do book reports. The reading I never minded, but the effort to summarize what I read was always an enormous struggle. Now I’ve grown appreciative of a helpful summary – which is all I want to do for you today....
I need to remember, we prayed for this!
If you’re anything like me, then all too often, I need to be reminded that God is in the business of answering our prayers....
An update on our COVID readiness
Almost everyone is now aware of the recent surge in COVID infections, courtesy of the Delta variant. As Trinity’s demographic is younger than many churches, last year we saw very few COVID infections relative to other Lakeland congregations....
Walking the ridge line
While Florida is basically flat, still you may have traveled to hike in the mountains....
Keep ReadingAn almost unknown state of mind
In this season of Christmas, I believe that an essential attitude or mindset is to be self-forgetful ...
Keep ReadingGive thanks to the LORD
“It is good to give thanks… to the LORD,” It’s noticeable in our culture that thanksgiving has gone horizontal....
Keep ReadingTrinity's strategy for outreach
I was asked recently, “Trinity is obviously growing, so what is your strategy for outreach?” And I believe the answer is three basic aspects of our culture. We want to know the Gospel. We believe we need the Gospel. And we seek to be related to people in our city who do not yet know Jesus....
Keep ReadingWhat is in your bottle?
Imagine a bottle about the size of your average water bottle in front of you, full of clear liquid. And you’re thirsty. So would you just pick it up and drink it? ...
Keep ReadingHurricane Michael Relief Effort
In the wake of Hurricane Michael, residents on the panhandle are in dire need of aid. ...
Keep ReadingFAQ's about church planting
We are in the midst of a lot of church planting highlights. We just commissioned our 6th daughter church, Grace Community in North Lakeland. They will launch publicly in just a couple of weeks. A...
Keep ReadingRenew Polk Gathering, Sunday night at Trinity
This Sunday is “Renew Polk” Sunday!...
Keep ReadingHurricane Florence Relief
Once again, we are confronted with the news of another disastrous situation in North Carolina, and we, as a church will do our best to reach out with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ....
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