Hidden ministry. These are the things that get done in God’s church without celebration or fanfare. There are a variety of hidden ministries that exhibit Christ’s love. Maybe some of you have participated in or been recipients of these simple acts.  Read More

Many days I live as if God is a “fill in the blanks” deity. I push and strain to do all I can and then miraculously, magically, providentially God honors work and settles the details I did not have time, energy, or resources to finish. A knick of time God. This is a lie. It is an immature view of God and a proud egotistically view of self. The truth is we need help. We are dependent on God.  Read More

“You’re Welcome.” What a common phrase, but it takes on deep spiritual meaning when it comes from Jesus. This is a key passage where Jesus declares that he is the source of what gives us real life. Believing in him leads to the Spirit of God quenching our spiritual thirst with with his life-giving presence. In essence Jesus proclaims, “You’re Welcome!”   Read More

I'm reminded this week of the silence of Jesus. Our world is filled with so many words and so much noise. In our day of constant posting, tweeting, commenting, and one-upping comebacks, the art of silence sure seems to be a lost art.   Read More

Psalm 47 might have been taken from the hearts of the Palm Sunday crowds around Jesus. He enters Jerusalem and they see Messiah come to subdue peoples under the Jewish nation. The expectations for Jesus were incredibly high and he did not diminish the ardor of the crowd.  Read More

Who prays for you? Who encourages you to be more faithful to God? Who can you go to with your questions, doubts, and uncensored thoughts? I have been privileged to be taught, supported, and encouraged by a whole cadre of mentors, teachers, and guides. I have had spiritual fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers. These godly men and women continue to be a well of wisdom and above all, point me to Jesus.  Read More

I am very concerned with my own interests. They are mine for crying out loud. I am focused on paying the mortgage, taking care of my kids, not being a jerk as a husband, doing good work. When it comes to faith, I’m interested to learn more, not be fake, and to grow closer to God. I am interested in others in our church and at least have some sense of my need to make the world a better place. You probably have some lists like this that inform your life. They are your interests.  Read More

Christians do unexpected things. Take Paul and Silas for instance after they are beaten, put in stocks, and imprisoned in Philippi, we read, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.” Their response to bodily harm and unjust imprisonment is prayer and joyful singing.  Read More

How are things progressing for you in your life with Jesus? Paul’s desire to continue serving faithfully on earth was for the Philippians “progress and joy in the faith.” His expectation and goal was for their growth and progress in faith. He is speaking about character transformation through the truth of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to stand up to external persecution and community discord. This strength of faith is exactly what Paul is hoping for them and it is his hope and love for them that drives him to persevere on their behalf.  Read More

All are welcome! Whether you are rich or poor, or you consider yourself gay or straight, transgender, or questioning, you are most welcome at our church. One of the things I love about the heart of Jesus and the gospel message is that all are welcome.   Read More

It's clear from this verse that Christians should stop trying to hold non-Christians to Christian standards. In the first place, it doesn't work, but more importantly we're told not to do it. But what isn't as clear in this verse is how we are to go about "judging" those...  Read More

I've come to learn that how we think people perceive us, or are going to perceive us, factors more into our everyday decision making than we might realize.  Read More