T.J. Lucas

by Reverend TJ Lucas Note: When I don't have time or I take off, like I did to recover from a long day Monday, our regular Monday Manna is called Tuesday Toast. For the comedy. The banner pictured above was painted for this sunday's message, it’s a massive iron chain caught right at the moment of impact—one central link creating the first break of that which binds us. This past Sunday, I carried that picture into two very different spaces. In the morning, I stood in our sanctuary with you....

by Rev. TJ Lucas Rev TJ and Nicole -Easter Sunday Beloved Church Family, I came to you at the height of the pandemic, and it felt like walking into a wilderness with no map and no marked trail. The years of ministry I had previously, the degrees and certifications I acquired, and all of the wisdom of trusted colleagues around me could not advise on how to best navigate such a historical circumstance. We could not gather for worship and when we finally could, we had to take precautions against...

By Rev. TJ Lucas You know that "anonymous complaint department" we’ve all dealt with at work, in our families, or at church? The classic "people are saying..." move, where someone hides behind a crowd instead of just being honest about how they feel. It usually boils down to a lack of vulnerability or a total lack of self-awareness. That’s why Jesus gives us such a clear, direct roadmap for conflict in Matthew 18. He says go straight to the person first. If that doesn't work, bring a couple...