Tim Boyd's Blog

The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote: “One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope.” Let me tell you how stupid this is.  It is through discipline and singular devotion that I have found any freedom or happiness in my life. For example, I have devoted myself to just one woman.  Crazy right?  I have committed to love just one woman for the rest of my life.  I have promised to put her above everyone else that is alive.  I have committed to have sex with just her.  Just one woman…for the rest of my life.  As long as she outlives me (which I’m betting she will), I will never have sex with any other woman for the rest of my life, or for all eternity.  What has that singular devotion brought me?  Gee.  Let me think for a little bit.  Ummm.  It’s brought me the single greatest source of encouragement, purpose, happiness, and “home” that I have ever known!!!!  I’m not sure how it’s possibl...

Wow!  I throw out exciting words and exclamation points way too much.  I understand that.  It's a part of me.  I'm up and down and all over.  I've come to embrace it and I like that about me.  However, this "WOW!" is different. Wow!  The last 45 hours have been incredible.  Mindy and I have been wanting to go back to Uganda for quite a while.  Not just the two of us, but the entire family.  That's a lot of money and it's not a high priority in our budget right now.  In all honesty, there's a good chance that our entire family will never go back to Uganda...together. But Uganda came rushing back to us this weekend through the incredible ministry of Watoto .  Choir #68 came to our precious Westside Christian Church yesterday and put on two incredible shows.  We had over 300 people come that Sunday morning and everyone left with spirits raised, smiling and crying.  And, hopefully, in awe of the amazing redempti...

I've got a good friend who does something pretty cool at the beginning of every year.  I'm not sure how long he's been doing it.  Each year he starts a Facebook message with lots of other Pastors and we share the top few books that we read during the previous year.  Each year I buy and read at least a couple of the books that I find on that list.  It also really encourages me to keep reading. (If this resonates with you - please put your books in the comment section of this post.  I'd love to see what you've been reading.) Here are my top 3 reads of 2014 1. Prayer: Conversing with God by Rosalind Rinker This, incredibly short book, is the definitive work on prayer.  The author could not be any more practical or easy to read.  With each new book that I read I always have a highlighter tucked behind my ear.  I started using it on this book and then quickly realized that I'd have to highlight the whole thing.  She wastes no wor...

Church is the blessed mix of messed up people who have come together for a season under the guidance of the Father who wishes them life and love.  Church is a blessing from God that is on par with marriage and family.  It's taking care of people we have come to love.  It's being cared for by people who have come to love us.  It's pooling our resources to reach out to the lonely, lost, searching, and those who don't even know there is a place called "church" where they are needed and wanted. Church is the closest thing to Heaven that we have in this world.  Yes, the Bible does teach that. It's not about happiness.  It's not about purpose.  It's not about belonging.  It's not about serving.  It's not about mission.  It's not about blah, blah, blah... It's God's gift to us.  It's people who have come together and are doing their best to let down their guard, tear off their masks, and lower their defenses.  It's people...

Title: The Whole Enchilada Text: The Bible :) Theme: The overview story of the Bible Series: Stand Alone Style: Date: 11/30/2014 Sermon Opener There are 66 books that comprise the Bible. It’s broken up into two sections called “testaments.” The Old Testament is 39 books broken up into 3 categories. Historical books Poetical books Prophetical books The New Testament is 27 books broken up into 3 categories. Historical books Letters written by Paul(written to churches & people) Letter written by others a Creation (Genesis 1) The bible starts of in the book of Genesis (which means origin). Read Genesis 2:4-9 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.  Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and ...

I got a call from the school where 2 of my kids go and my wife works informing me that there was a lockdown.  So, knowing the quickest way to get info, went to twitter to see what was happening.  A lady who works with the paper in town tweeted out the address to the shooting.  I immediately google mapped it and found out it was the church where my friend Tripp is the Pastor.  I texted him and got nothing back.  That is very unlike him. So I waited and scoured the net. Nothing. So I called and it went to voicemail. Nothing. Then my mentor (who is also Tripp's mentor) called me.  As soon as I picked up my phone and saw his name I knew what he was going to say.  He was crying and I was in shock. This was Thursday.  Wednesday we went to Chipotle for lunch.  Wednesday Tripp and I discussed our churches.  He loved his and I love mine.  We were both so happy to be here in the middle of Bradenton working at little churches with ...

That was fun!  I love to preach.  It's my favorite thing to do.  Honestly, I'm shocked that I can consider this my full-time job and I'm even more shocked that people return week after week to listen to my awful jokes and nasal voice.  Yes, it sounds like I always have a cold. First off, let me tell you that two weeks ago a wonderful older woman from the 9:00 traditional service said (and I quote), "With that beard you look like Tim Tebow."  I'll take it.  I'm assuming she is very close to completely blind. After preaching this sermon at the first service I thought it was terrible.  I was already sick of it.  By the time I preached it live in front of people I had already practiced it several times.  So, I was pleased that no one threw anything at me.  Quite the opposite really.  I had more positive reactions to this sermon that I think I ever have.  Here's some of my favorite comments. "Can I get a tape of this sermon?" ...