When your summer travel plans get canceled, and then your backup plans get canceled as well, what do you do? I don’t know what you do, but me and my Stockton five, we quarantine ourselves in our big van and head north.
So the last couple weeks have come with stirred up a lot of feelings. I was filled to the brim with the uncertainty and unrest that COVID-19 has brought about. I was deeply stirred with indignation over the horrible murder of George Floyd by someone who abused the special authority given to police officers.
I really believe it’s the Church’s job to lead people back to each other.
In this time of COVID-19 quarantine we have experienced intense separation due to biological realities. These months of social distancing and the lingering uncertainty make it seem scary to try to get back together.
The music of my childhood was the music of my parents. My dad loved goofy 60’s music like “G.T.O.” by Rohnny and the Daytonas. My mom bounced back and forth between Les Miserable and Country.
Many people are asking what I think the church should do in light of all the Covid-19 questions and re-opening questions. I know the main reason they are asking is because they care about the church. We are a church family and there is a beautiful covenantal bond that takes place when people commit to worship Jesus together and journey life’s challenges alongside each other.
When Jesus walked among mankind He took on the role of rabbi. As a rabbi He would speak to individuals, small groups, crowds, and other rabbis. I love what the gospel writers have to say about His words. In one place the Bible says this about Jesus’ speaking: “Did not our hearts burn within us as we listened to Him along the way?” One of my …
Happy Thanksgiving to you. In our Revelation series, we have been speaking about “counter-formation.” I think Thanksgiving is a powerful counter formation practice. Gratefulness is such a magnificent thing. I love that Americans have a significant holiday just for giving thanks. In the dog-eat-dog world of …
Christ did not set us free so we can do whatever we want. He set us free so we can do what is beautiful. Last night I met a lady at church who is fresh out of prison. She was in prison for four years and has been out for three months. After being locked up and distrusted for so long, she is free and very unsure. You could …
I am 44 years old. I have grey in my beard and, if you look closely, there is grey in my hair as well. (But don’t look closely, okay?) My wife and I just celebrated seventeen years of marriage and though there have been times our marriage was running on fumes, right now it feels pretty full. As for my kids, only one of them is actually a kid…
In the country for 2 hours and we were already at the Police Station. I spent the last week in Belize, Central America and had some brand new experiences. Adding up the years my wife and I lived there, plus the weeks we have spent doing missions trips there, we have spent quite a bit of time in Belize. But last week, going with …
On Sunday Living Streams learned from Jesus’ little brother about how Jesus lived. Jesus would become proximate and generous to a person’s pain. Jesus was obedient and sacrificial in whatever His Father asked of Him. And Jesus took care of the vulnerable. On Monday we launched our Freedom class, where people will learn to hear Jesus’ voice, discover Jesus’ specific design…
If Justice is getting what you deserve, and mercy is not getting what you deserve, then how is God both just and merciful? And subsequently how are we to accomplish what God has required of us: to do justice and love mercy? I’m glad you asked. When a person convicted of murder gets a life sentence in prison, we call that justice. We say things like “justice has been served.”
Covid has me on the sidelines. I recently spent a couple of weeks quarantined due to Covid exposure protocols, and another couple of weeks quarantined due to actually having Covid. Because of this, I have prepared Sunday morning messages which someone else has preached, I have missed some family get-togethers, important work moments, and even my own birthday party.
My friends, there is some good news out there. Our desert weather is changing. The days start a little cooler and the day’s heat subsides a little earlier in the evening. Though Covid-19 is spiking again, the vaccines and treatments are minimizing deaths and symptoms and fear. It’s my birthday today and 44 doesn’t hurt too bad. I have my wife and kids around me….
Picture a gymnasium-sized room full of round tables. Picture those round tables filled with good food for everyone to enjoy. Picture those tables full of people of different generations, backgrounds and ethnicities paying attention to each other and swapping stories. Next, picture the hundreds of people around those tables being
When I remember the stories of the first handful of men and women who took Jesus’ words and ways seriously, I wonder about our potential. When I think how the actions and words of those men and women spawned a worldwide, generation-spanning, communal movement—which has clearly become the single most dominant force for good the world has ever known—I wonder what our potential is….
Here are some highlights from last week's men's highlights: I shot two guys with one arrow. We played archery tag during free time. Archery tag is basically a dodgeball game; but instead of throwing balls, you shoot arrows. Just in case that sounds brutal to you, know that the tip of the arrow has a large pad that looks like a marshmallow.
There are some very heavy and horrific images and stories coming out of Afghanistan. Knowing what to say and do is very difficult, but knowing the power of prayer and the promises given about prayer make prayer the best place to start. Today I want to share with you a prayer I found posted by @forallisthroughhim:
So…last week I wrote about a normal work week for “pastor people;” but sometimes someone in your church has a bass boat and offers to take you out for some fishing…and your normal week becomes less normal. Now, I have done lot of fishing, but no largemouth bass fishing. I have seen it on TV and I’ve heard people talk about it, but lake fishing has never really been “my thing.”
I would like to take this opportunity to give some insight as to what a pastor does.
I frequently meet people who wonder what I do during the week — but only a few have enough curiosity or courage to ask me. It is fun to observe the confusion behind their eyes as they wonder what happens between Sunday mornings and if it is offensive for them to ask about it.
So far our road trip has been a combo of many things.
When it comes to wildlife, we have seen mountain goats atop the Black Hills of South Dakota, an elk by a quiet stream in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, and both a bald eagle and a peregrine falcon diving for fish in a pristine Rocky Mountain lake…
Father’s Day was a little different for me this year.
Firstly, my wife spoke to our church in my place. Her message dispelled lies and provided encouragement for men and fathers. She spoke from both the treasure and the poverty in the deepest parts of her soul. I and many others were moved by the truth and hope and clarity of her God-given words…
My wife asked me to text her before I lost service. I was heading out with my brother and some friends to the Black River in eastern Arizona. I was very excited to get away from everything normal. I was excited that my phone would not work. And I was excited to be fishing in cool weather, a cooler river, and nature’s beauty. Our fishing trip was filled with fun conversation…
This week I saw something which made my pastor heart swell up like the Grinch’s when hit with the Whos in Whoville singing their Christmas song. It happened in the midst of our sanctuary crowded with 250 kids and 100 volunteers. It is always good to see the sanctuary full. It is always good to see kids having fun. It is always good to see a well-organized …
Yesterday was a fun day. I woke up early and ran to the grocery store to buy some snacks. Through a chance encounter I had received the schedule of Scottsdale Christian Academy’s executive team’s offsite planning week — and I know any good planning meeting needs good snacks. In my opinion, SCA’s leadership has …
