Author: vancecrains
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Q&A
I’m spending this week at the Warren W. Willis United Methodist Youth Camp, in Fruitland Park, Florida, as the Senior High pastor. I didn’t attend this camp as a camper. But, I’ve been coming to this camp as an adult volunteer (primarily as the Senior High pastor) for one week…
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Why Superheroes Wear Masks…
When I was a kid, I loved to watch Florida Federation Wrestling. I know it was fake. I knew, then, it was fake. But, I loved the action. I loved the moves. Mostly, I loved the characters. In particular, I remember the “bad guy” wrestlers, wearing masks. There was…
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Leap: The Second Sermon is a Series Called “The 40-Day Summer Stretch,” Preached at First Church Coral Springs on Sunday, June 25, 2017
Aquaphobia Many of us have one phobia or another. A phobia is an irrational fear, a kind of anxiety disorder in which the individual has a relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place, or thing. According to Phobialist.com, there are at least 350 known, documented, verifiable phobias. According to Medicalnewstoday.com, the 5 most common…
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Ancient-Future
I recently listened to a program on NPR called, In Salt Lake City You’ll Find Mormons Who Meditate. You can read the transcript at In Salt Lake City You’ll Find Mormons Who Meditate In summary, the story is about a man who grew up Mormon, left the Mormon faith as…
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Stretched! The First Sermon in a Series Called “The 2017 Summer Stretch,” Preached at First Church Coral Springs on Sunday, June 18, 2017
In Michelangelo’s famous painting of God reaching out to Adam, painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, God’s arm is fully extended. Adam, however, is slouched back, barely exerting the effort to lift his arm, only almost reaching out to God. Adam represents us. While God always reaches out…
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Eating Death
On my way to work, this morning, I noticed a “committee” of buzzards (yes – a group of buzzards is a “committee”) sitting on street lights, brooding above a dead road-kill possum they obviously wanted for breakfast, but couldn’t reach because of the morning traffic. I hate buzzards. Actually, that’s…
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Children’s Ministry Sermon – preached at First Church Coral Springs on Sunday, June 12, 2017
I suspect we would all agree that children need Jesus. Adults need Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus. But, the earlier we can introduce a child to Jesus, the earlier we can begin to develop solid spiritual foundations for the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face as adults. There is an…
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Civility
I believe in the power of words. Words can build up. Words can tear down. Words can encourage. Words can wound. Words can bless. Words can curse. Very few words are powerless and without consequence. I believe, deeply, in the power of words. “Those who guard their lips preserve their…
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“Love Transforms” – the 5th and last sermon of a series called, “We Love First,” preached on May 28th, 2017 at First Church Coral Springs
Do we Really Believe This Stuff? During Lent our theme was “Restoration.” We talked each week about how God can restore what is broken. Throughout Lent, as I prepared for each sermon, I found myself asking, week-by-week, “Do I really believe this stuff?” Do I really believe God can fix…
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“Love Shares” – the 4th message in a 5-week sermon series called, “We Love First,” preached on May 21, 2017, at First Church Coral Springs
In 1999, my family was sent to Port St. Lucie, Florida to start a new United Methodist Church. I had dreamed of starting a new church, and had spent the previous year planning. Though I didn’t know a single person in Port St. Lucie,…
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