davegipson@hotmail.com

If you only knew…

UncategorizedAugust 12, 201893Views 0Likes 0Comments

I remember the first time someone called me “pastor” and it finally felt normal. Actually, I only thought they were saying “pastor”. I was in a Starbucks I frequent, and someone called out something like “faster”. It could have even been “disaster”, but I’ve been called that before. But after I turned around to look, I caught…

Before You Hit Send

UncategorizedJuly 30, 2018120Views 0Likes 1Comment

I just got a text from a friend that shocked me. It wasn’t as much what they said as who they said it about. You see, the text was about someone we both knew. But its author had accidentally sent it not to its intended recipient, but instead to the subject of the text. My friend sent…

When God Wants You Unhappy

UncategorizedJuly 7, 2018146Views 0Likes 0Comments

I recently got a Facebook message from a well-meaning Christian friend: "God has seen everything you've been going through, and He told me to tell you 'IT'S OVER'! Your trial has ended, and now God's about to open up the windows of heaven to bless you beyond your wildest dreams!!!!!" (Full disclosure: I may have…

Your pain

UncategorizedJune 27, 201893Views 0Likes 0Comments

I am so sincerely sorry for your pain. But... Your pain is not the only pain in the world Your pain does not make you right. It doesn’t justify your lashing out Your pain does not necessarily make you noble or brave Your pain may indeed destroy you, if you let it Your pain is a curse...or…

When Worship Doesn’t Work

UncategorizedMay 31, 2018113Views 0Likes 0Comments

I watched a worship service on the internet recently. I was pretty familiar with the church I was watching. It had been known for powerful worship, and a big joyful choir. Clearly God had worked in this church in a dynamic way for many years. But since moves of God are hard to sustain, over the…

Bitter / Better

UncategorizedMay 3, 201814Views 0Likes 0Comments

Once there was a man on our street who I knew was watching our house, every single day. And even worse, he was constantly leering at our children. Anywhere else this occurred, they'd call the cops on him. But in Florida, they elect him to the Neighborhood Association. Anytime my teenage kids parked their cars…

Blinding Them With Science

UncategorizedApril 26, 201874Views 0Likes 0Comments

I’m afraid I may have just triggered someone. First, let me explain. I watched over the weekend as the March for Science took place in Washington D.C. (Earth Day - April 22, 2017). The organizers had made it clear they didn’t want their event to become a partisan political forum: We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group…

I’m Unfollowing You on Facebook, Bless Your Heart

UncategorizedApril 23, 201885Views 0Likes 0Comments

I’m unfollowing you on Facebook, bless your heart. Not unfriending, but I won't be seeing your posts, at least for now. And as I've mentioned before, "bless your heart" is a pastor's code word... ...it's code for "what an idiot". I know that's something as a pastor I'm not supposed to say. But I'm afraid…

My TRADING SPACES Saga

UncategorizedApril 9, 2018151Views 0Likes 1Comment

Recently, the former TLC show TRADING SPACES was rebooted with the broadcasting of brand new episodes. In the show, neighbors rehab one room of the other’s house in just a couple of days, on a strict budget. The original run began about the year 2000 and continued in one incarnation or another until 2008. Though…

#thoughtsandprayers

UncategorizedMarch 24, 201861Views 0Likes 0Comments

So when a tragedy strikes, people feel helpless. It’s something I get to see a little too often as a pastor. There are times I feel completely useless praying for a patient’s healing in the hospital, when all indications are they are going to pass away. I visited a pastor in the hospital just a few weeks…

Mr Hawking’s Wild Ride

UncategorizedMarch 14, 2018179Views 0Likes 4Comments

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76. His fascinating life story and battle with a rare form of motor neuron disease is told in the film The Theory of Everything. He was without argument a brilliant scientist, and the world is less fortunate for his passing. But unfortunately, like many scientists, he…

As you think they are…

Social issuesFebruary 20, 201856Views 0Likes 0Comments

The issues are never as black and white as you think they are. The remedies are never as simple as you think they are. Those who disagree with you are never as evil as you think they are. Remember that, next time everyone runs for their respective high horses...

Author page: davegipson@hotmail.com

davegipson@hotmail.com