It is impossible to overstate the dramatic change from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. The typical Palm Sunday service is filled with kids waving palm branches, upbeat songs, and a vibe of joy. Good Friday, on the other hand, is…
I am restless. There is a question I cannot get out of my head despite my best efforts. How did we end up with two billion Christians in the world? Or, to ask more provocatively - how did the early…
At the start of this pandemic, I was convinced the quarantine was an amazing opportunity to change. While being stuck at home was not what anybody would want, fewer commitments meant more time and freedom. Those lingering house projects? Not…
I want to talk about something I never thought I would talk about as a pastor. Masks. If even the mention of the word “masks” brings a roll of the eye, a huff, or whatever your preferred choice of exasperation,…
A few nights ago I had to tell my son nine times - go to bed. It might actually have been more than nine times, but at some point it was time to stop counting. Whether it was nine or…
This blog post is in memory of Eugene Peterson, who passed away in October 2018. Eugene Peterson is not the reason I became a pastor, but he might be the reason I am still a pastor. His impact on my…
“Every human being is involved in a desperate attempt to narrate himself into a safe place.” - Richard Powers. I do not know who Richard Powers is or why he wrote this, but he is right about me. If I…
Without cross-cultural relationships, following Jesus is more difficult. After spending close to three weeks in China over the course of three months, what I found is that it is hard to see how Jesus has saved me in my culture…
“I have hidden my word in your heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11) I have a strained relationship with Scripture memory. The first time I ever memorized Scripture was at church camp, because memorizing Scripture meant…