Funny thing about home… First, home starts out as a place where you live, then it becomes a place you visit, and then along comes a pandemic that, like an iron curtain, sequesters and separates us and puts our lives on hold, and suddenly, for many, home is a place that is simply there. Doing … Continue reading
Author Archives: pastorkemp
Pastor’s Briefing for August 22, 2020
The secret to Peter’s failure
Last Sunday I shared the secret to Simon Peter’s success. It is summed up in his response to Jesus’s instructions to cast his fishing nets when it didn’t make good sense to do so. Peter said, “Yet if You say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5) But Peter is also famous for … Continue reading
NCR Pastor’s Briefing for August 15, 2020
Greetings! On my heart this week has been balancing being reckless vs. being fearless. In the new norm we are currently in, I am afraid that many are living to not die, instead of living to live fully and then die. As leaders, we can fall for the same trap. “Playing defense” is a part … Continue reading
Almost 100% Sure
I remember meeting with a couple who felt their marriage was over. I listened, I advised, and I listened and advised some more. All to no avail. Finally, our counseling session wound down to hopeless silence. After a pause, I looked at them and said, “So, what you’re saying is that you’re both 100% convinced … Continue reading
I Promise…
Your promises define you. People remember the promises you make. When you say you will call someone back, they consider that a promise. When you tell someone you will do something, that’s a promise. When you volunteer you are promising to shoulder a part of the load. Not showing up or backing out, is breaking … Continue reading
When you know more about fishing than the other guy…
The secret to Simon Peter’s profound influence and impact on human history is captured in this simple phrase: “Yet if You say so, I will let down the nets.” –Simon Peter responding to Jesus Christ (Luke 5:5) Being a professional fisherman, Peter had far more experience about fishing than Jesus. To compound his superiority, he … Continue reading
NCR Saturday Briefing
Five years ago today I was doing something I never thought I’d do…at least until I retired. Five years ago today I was packing in order to move away from my home and my church home after twenty years. In this video I list four lessons I learned during that milestone transition time in my … Continue reading
A free pass
My dad is a kindness all-star. That’s why I surprised one day when I got in his car and noticed a label on the dashboard which said, “Love is kind.” I asked, “Dad, why do you have that label on your dashboard?” He replied, “Son, I have to remind myself to be kind. You know, … Continue reading
People you don’t like
If you have to like someone to work with them, vote for them, agree with them, or do anything constructive, you are going to greatly limit what you do in life. Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of people out there who are hard to like. However, that does not mean you cannot accomplish something … Continue reading
