Author: vancecrains
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Smooth
I had to have an EEG (electroencephalogram) this week. The purpose of an EEG is to test electrical activity in the brain, and to assess for abnormalities. I suspect that no one, who knows me, is surprised that I needed a test to check for brain abnormalities! When the dozens…
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Character Development vs. Sin Management
Last night was my weekly Bible Study. Our focus was chapters 46 and 47 of Genesis, and specifically on Joseph. Joseph is often considered an example of great character and integrity, standing strong in the face of betrayal, temptation, false accusation, and hopeless circumstances. And, yet, by chapter 47, Joseph seems…
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Love Serves – Part III of a 5-week sermon series called, “We Love First,” preached on May 14, 2017, at First Church Coral Springs
Today, I’m talking about the intersection of love and service. Though this is not, technically, a Mother’s Day message, I can’t think of any better examples of love-motivated service than mothers. No offense intended toward the Dads! But, let’s be honest – Moms, for the most part, put…
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Love Grows – Part II of a 5 week sermon series called “We Love First,” delivered at First Church Coral Springs on Sunday, May 7, 2017
Either Growing, or… Now that the weather is warmer, and the rains have started, everything has started growing again – rapidly. I’m enjoying my bonsai trees – as they are sprouting new growth and blooming. But, I’m also daily weeding and trimming, just to keep everything under control. Growth…
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Utz a patik
I received a Facebook message this week from my friend, Francisco, who is Mayan and lives in a small mountain village in Guatemala, called Chontala. Yes – they have Facebook. Chontala is a second home for me. Actually, maybe, in many ways, Chontala is home for me. I’ve been going…
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We Love First – Part 1 of a 5-week Sermon Series called “We Love First” – preached at First Church Coral Springs on April 30, 2017.
What’s the Vision? Almost as soon as I arrived last summer, as your new pastor, some of you were asking, “What’s your vision for First Church?” What’s my vision? Are you kidding? At that point I was still trying to find the grocery store, the movie theater, a new dentist! …
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Cogs, Machines, People and Pastors
I’m a United Methodist Pastor. At ordination, I submitted to the authority of a bishop, to go where I am sent to serve. In some denominations, pastors decide for themselves whether or not to accept a “call” to serve a particular church or to live in a particular locale. Not so…
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Reflections on Forty Days of Blogging
For Lent, I committed to write a blog, everyday, for forty days, plus Sundays. I did it! But, now Lent is over… What now? I don’t plan to continue blogging daily – I think we would all get a little sick of that. Instead, I’m thinking that I will continue…
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Restored – A message preached on Easter Sunday, 2017, at First Church of Coral Springs, to conclude a Lent series called “Restoration.”
During the season of Lent, our theme has been “Restoration,” as in when someone takes something that is old and broken-down – an old house, an old car, an old piece of furniture – and takes the time to restore it into something new. Similarly, we have said that is…
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A Strange Saturday…
I woke up this morning, feeling relieved. It has been a busy, hectic Holy Week. My church had three different services – one on Maundy Thursday, and two on Good Friday – each requiring a different sermon. Beyond the sermons, there were also numerous other details of the worship services…
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