Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life

I’ve been involved in church leadership now for almost 14 years (that seems like forever). I have now worked as a volunteer in a church, as part-time staff, as full time staff, as paid temporary staff, and as a supported ministry worker. I have been asked to give advice to churches I do not regularlyContinue reading “Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life”

Thoughts to drive us – We are little kids and its ok

One afternoon, my four-year-old daughter picked up her mom’s phone and sent me a text message that had about fifteen letter g’s, ten letter l‘s, and twelve letter k‘s in it. it was indistinguishable and garbled. The moment I saw the text, I knew who it was from, and I knew she wanted to send meContinue reading “Thoughts to drive us – We are little kids and its ok”

Grammys and art: Sia-squatch…or Take Off, You Hozier

The Grammys were last night. Here’s some highlights: Pharrell did “Happy” in a weird orchestral setting with a piano player who is famous enough that no one has heard of him and the Pirates of the Caribbean music guy pretending to play guitar. Beyonce performed a gospel chorus. She sang it once. It took 27 minutes.Continue reading “Grammys and art: Sia-squatch…or Take Off, You Hozier”

Thoughts to drive us – We are “but dust”

We are dust – earthy and humble, finite and temporal…We live on borrowed breath. We are alive in the most profound sense of the word – filled with the very breath that spoke creation into being. Within this tension is a status that is regal but lowly, significant but insignificant, unique but ordinary. God looks uponContinue reading “Thoughts to drive us – We are “but dust””

Be More Musk-y

My church is currently going through a vision-casting process. The church has been growing steadily for 3 years and has been near-capacity on Sunday mornings for around a year, and the youth and children’s programs have begun to fill the spaces available to them. Some solution needs to be found in order to continue toContinue reading “Be More Musk-y”

Gospel Outside – Go Teach Sunday School

While the gospels are the easiest place to see the person and work of Jesus Christ, the entirety of the scriptures share the gospel story. Gospel Outside will highlight a part of the gospel seen outside of the 4 Gospels of the New Testament. Often times, when we think of being highly successful, wealthy or famous,Continue reading “Gospel Outside – Go Teach Sunday School”

Gospel Outside – Don’t Lie To Yourself

While the gospels are the easiest place to see the person and work of Jesus Christ, the entirety of the scriptures share the gospel story. Gospel Outside will highlight a part of the gospel seen outside of the 4 Gospels of the New Testament. Have you ever had a problem but just wanted to pretend itContinue reading “Gospel Outside – Don’t Lie To Yourself”

Thoughts to drive us – Violent Santa for Jesus

The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic Gods giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves. -Nicholas of Myra Nicholas was a church father who, among other things, defended orthodoxy by sitting on the First Council of Nicaea, signing the Nicene Creed, and punching theContinue reading “Thoughts to drive us – Violent Santa for Jesus”

My Response To Critics: Hey guys, I’m a false teacher!

So I think this is my final comments on the past conflicts we have seen in our push towards unity among Christians in my community. Unless it isn’t. So anyways, this lesson comes to us from a letter to the editor responding to my “Unite around the Bible” article that was published by the localContinue reading “My Response To Critics: Hey guys, I’m a false teacher!”