Author Archives: Matthew Winters

I think we all think explosion when we think of July 4, but it is typically related to fireworks. Today, our church had a few explosions. Let me say these were good and, well, not so bad explosions. First, let me begin with the good explosion. I have now been pastor for 2 months. OnContinue reading “An Explosive 4th of July”

Since I returned to the pastorate, I have been reminded about tests and lessons. It was so much easier when I simply attended a church and listened to someone else preach a message. I still had a responsibility to put the Bible into action, but I’m tested a lot more now I’m the one preachingContinue reading “Tests and Lessons”

Blame is something that is a few thousand years old, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. We watch it happen multiple times a day. I see my kids do it. I even see myself do it. For the purpose of writing this blog, I’m going to blame some people for myContinue reading “It’s Their Fault!”

I love cake…a bit too much, but it has to have the right icing. The wrong icing, in my opinion, can ruin a cake. When the phrase “icing on the cake” is used, the implication is that the cake is good, but the icing makes it so much better. This could be an accurate descriptionContinue reading “The Icing on the Cake”

For our family, the weekend began on Thursday. I left work around 1:30 to drive to the lower part of the state for my oldest son Micah’s high school graduation. My wife and the kids left home within a few hours of that. We had to drive separately because we were adding two kids toContinue reading “A Weekend to Remember”

This is probably the most action-packed month I have had in years…well, at least POSITIVELY action-packed. I returned to the pastorate on Sunday, May 2. God has graciously allowed me to pastor a wonderful church in Anderson, SC. I am having the time of my life preaching and leading a church. I also preached aContinue reading “The Very Merry Month of May”

Forgiveness is something with which many of us struggle. There is not a single one of us who has not been offended or outright sinned against. Depending on the depth of our hurt, the road to forgiveness is longer for some than for others. For me, it was much longer than I anticipated and muchContinue reading “The Unforgiving Pastor”

I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most wonderful people over the last 40 years. Of course, I don’t remember the first few years of my life during my infant and toddler years. I do, however, remember from age 3-4 forward. I have lived in 4 states, ministered in many churches, andContinue reading “Gone Too Soon: Thoughts on the Brevity of Life”

I couldn’t think of a better time of year for the celebration of Resurrection Sunday to take place. Flowers are blooming, and everything that was dead is coming back to life. I saw this and more at our church’s worship service today. The event started with tailgating and family-friendly activities. I looked around and sawContinue reading “What Resurrection Looks Like”

Almost 7 years ago, I joined hospice. Not as a patient, but as a chaplain. A friend of mine recommended me for the position. When he called me, my initial thought was “Hospice is about sickness and death, and those are the two things I least like about church ministry.” I didn’t resist the recommendationContinue reading “Hospice Saved My Life”