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I just had a pleasant experience and I sense I am supposed to share it. While some do, most of the people who minister like we minister do not do so for personal gain or recognition. We are simply content to serve the Lord in this way. So, we don’t spend our lives hungrily shaking the bushes hoping some compliments will fall out. We are content. Sometimes, though, someone will approach some of us and tell us nice things about the effect we may have had in our lives. This is my topic here: recognition. Today a young man I met years ago when he was in his teens approached me after I worked out. He asked if I was, indeed, Mike McInerney. I said I was and he asked if I remembered him. Well, I se

There is nothing that touches me more than to witness what I call “spiritual courage.” My definition of “spiritual courage” is “to do what we know is right to do spiritually even when faced with dire consequences.” Jesus walked into Jerusalem knowing fully well that he would walk out beaten, tortured, tormented, abandoned and carrying his own instrument of death – the Cross. He listened to those singing praises to him, laying palm leaves and their cloaks on the ground for Him to ride over knowing that some of these very same people would be crying out “Crucify Him!” He KNEW what was going to happen. In an earthly sense it was absurd for Jesus to not turn and leave certain death. He did it an

In the past 2 years I have experienced the deaths of 7 significant people in my life: my pastor, some friends....(my pastor was also my friend), including people I watch over as THEIR pastor. A few days ago a man I pastored who lived in Carrolton, TX, Jim Lott, died after a courageous fight with cancer. A number of his friends and relatives are grappling with his death...which was not unexpected - we just all hoped he would somehow beat cancer. For a few years I worked as a hospice chaplain in N. Texas. I learned some things about death and grief doing that ministry. Whenever something like Jim's death happens I encourage people to live in such a way after the death that it honors the person

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the Cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” (John 19:31) Religion is an interestingly weird thing because religion is made by man. In contrast, Christianity is a lifestyle. Basically, religion is a set of man-made rules. Here we see that the Jews have arranged for the Savior to be murdered in order to keep their position and their earthly power secure. These men were interested in how things looked. Religion ALWAYS cares about how things look. In GREAT contrast, CHRISTIANITY is always concerned about TR

Mmmmmmm. Its 10:30 am. I’m sitting in my office at home eating a wonderful late breakfast: pan fried ham and scrambled eggs with curry. It’s a delicious way to have scrambled eggs. You should try it sometime. I have a full schedule today. My plan was to visit with 6 people today in my ministry office and be there until 9 or 9:30 tonight. I’m home, instead. One of the men I watch over…pastor…is a young man. Has stage 4 prostate cancer which has metastasized all over his body. I try to spend time with him every Friday but it doesn’t always work out that way. It’s been hard to watch but I think it is important that I be an active part of his life at this time. He is my friend. A little while ag

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” (John 17:20) He says this in the present tense. Jesus prays. Right now He is praying for those that will come to Him though our various ministries, through what we refer to as missionaries wherever it is they are on the earth. Let’s see His pattern: He prays for Himself, then He prays for those close to Him (this includes us) and then He prays for those beyond His personal sphere of influence. We can imitate Him in this. We can pray for ourselves, for those close to us and for those who WILL come to Him....through us and through those we disciple. What exactly is His specific prayer? Of all the thi