Renewal Starts With Me
There is a question I cannot get out of my mind. I have been thinking about it incessantly over the last several months because something I have never seen or heard about before has happened in these months. Here is…
Pandemics, Bears and Fear
The most frequent command Jesus speaks in the Gospels is Do not fear. Why do you think that is? While you are thinking, let me tell you something about bears. Last October, I went to Glacier National Park for a…
The Message of Palm Sunday
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…
Training In Love
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…
We Can Change
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…
Caring for the Vulnerable: One Mask At a Time
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,…
Covid Grace
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…
My Mentor: Eugene Peterson
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…
See better…live better: Jeremiah
“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…
Rice Noodles, Cross-Cultural Relationships, and a Stronger Faith
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…