Category Archives: In A Nutshell

Standing Firmly on Our Faith Where did our summer go? How will things look this fall? What will the coming year bring? Right now, our heads are swirling with these types of questions and many others as we head into August and ponder a future filled with uncertainty. Clearly, this has been a challenging yearContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 31, 2020”

Paving the Way through Perseverance There are many similarities between pastoring and coaching. Whether it is a church or a team, the leader must provide guidance, leadership, assurance, inspiration, encouragement, and so much more. However, neither a pastor nor a coach can be an effective leader unless the congregation or the team is fully committedContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 24, 2020”

Time to Awaken from Our Summer Slumber              The coronavirus has changed our lives in many ways — both great and small. One of the seemingly less significant consequences has been the temptation to sleep longer and more often.             After all, with more time on our hands, many of us are opting for additional down timeContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 17, 2020”

Relief from the Dog ‘Daze’ of Summer Given the fact that Oak Chapel resides in an agricultural community, it only makes sense for us to pay attention to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, especially when it comes to the “Dog Days of Summer.” This 40-day period, which runs from July 3 through August 11 and coincidesContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 10, 2020”

Let Freedom Ring            On this Independence Day weekend, when we celebrate the great and glorious gift of freedom, we give thanks for the many brave men and women who so courageously put their lives on the line to establish and maintain the countless liberties we enjoy today.            At the same time, our nationContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 3, 2020”

Nutshell – And Away We Go Jackie Gleason used to open his variety show in the mid-to-late sixties by saying, “And Awaaay We Go!’ That’s kind of the way I feel heading into our first weekend of in-person worship in three months. I am happy, excited, and, well, just a little apprehensive, hoping that we’veContinue reading “In A Nutshell | June 12, 2020”

Nutshell – New Life As I close in on my first anniversary at Oak Chapel, I continue to be overwhelmed by God’s many blessings, the undeniable influence of those who serve him. My appointment here has been life changing, and the birth of our first two grandchildren has given me new hope for a betterContinue reading “In A Nutshell | June 5, 2020”

A Plea for Peace            This week’s Nutshell comes to you well past our usual Friday deadline, not because of procrastination, but rather exasperation.            I had prepared what I thought would be a happy and uplifting message about new life to set the tone for your weekend, but it became apparent that I could not ignoreContinue reading “In A Nutshell | May 29, 2020”

Are We There Yet? Remember when you were a child, and your parents took you on vacation? The car was packed to the gills, and you and your siblings were practically sitting on top of each other (because most of us did not wear seatbelts back then). Those were the days…or so we thought. NoContinue reading “In A Nutshell | May 22, 2020”

Nutshell – A Renewed Call to Prayer I’ve been here at Oak Chapel for almost a year — and a very blessed year it has been for me, despite the crow, the cat, the break-in, and the pandemic — but even after 11 months, I still find myself sorting through old files here at theContinue reading “In A Nutshell | May 15, 2020”