Brandon

christian, husband, dad, pastor @collegeparkcc

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

Want to make someone really mad? Call their “animated series” a cartoon.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@BrentMerrill I would appreciate that.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@JeffreyPWiesner We’ve, as a small church, have been thinking about this a lot. One of our areas of focus this year is using the gifts we’ve already been given and seeking to utilize them well instead of complaining about what we don’t have.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@JeffreyPWiesner @BaldlyObserving @canva Also canva pro is free for non profits.

[Jared C. Wilson @jaredcwilson]

“Are we having church on December 31?”

“Is it a Sunday?”

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@erichoke I think it depends on how you allocate those 25 hours per week.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

Family Christmas exchange today. I’ve been talking about Bitcoin with my brother in law all year -here’s what he got me - keys not shown…

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

One of the temptations of being a pastor (and maybe everybody) is always wanting the new and exciting. I’ve been convicted about using what we’ve already been given . Our trying to “use a building better” is a start for us.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

For a long time I had this feeling that we, as churches, don’t use our property very well. A couple hours on Sunday and maybe a few things during the week, but largely empty.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

And this hot chocolate bar is legit. I’ll be exercising “pastoral prerogative” for an inspection soon.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@blabitz7 @erichoke This is wonderful!

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

If Jesus Wrote a History of the Church

If Jesus wrote a history of the church, I don’t think we would recognize most of the names. Sure, sprinkled through the chapters would be some of the big ones, people like Jerome, Augustine, Aquinas, or Luther.

But I suspect even church historians would be scratching their heads over the people whose lives Jesus decided to focus on.

Our Lord tends to pivot the spotlight off the main stage and onto some seeming nobody up in the nosebleed seats, who always seems as surprised as everyone else. “Who, me?”

Take John. How can we not appreciate, even chuckle, at the opening of Luke 3? The evangelist goes through this list of ancient VIPs, from the Roman emperor, to Pontius Pilate, all the way down to the Jewish religious hierarchy of the day.

Then, he pivots. Where? From all these powerful politicians to some wildman preacher out in the wilderness, with a salty preaching style and odd eating habits. Not Ceasar, not Herod, not even the high priest, but this preacher in the boondocks of Judea steals the show.

That’s God’s way: seeing the unseen, highlighting the easily erased, making the underdog the topdog in his salvation story.

What a lift this gives to us. Who knows, in a History of the Church, authored by Jesus, you might get a whole chapter.

“What have I done?” you ask, incredulous. Ah, that’s it. Much like those who said, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink…” So you say, “What have I done?”

Here is what you have done: your seemingly small, unnoticed acts of kindness; the words of grace you spoke to one in need; the hundreds of sermons you have preached in that small congregation; all of that is seen, known, and applauded by Christ.

Nothing done in the name of Jesus is ever forgotten.

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

@jordanbush From someone who pastors a church that accepts Bitcoin - there are logistical challenges to both acceptance, accountability, and then usage of those resources. However, there also a lot of community help available.

[Dr. Eric Mason @pastoremase]

You don’t have to tear down someone else’s work to validate your own

[Brandon @brandonsmerrill]

Mondays are good for my soul and hard on my clothes.