You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about grief lately. (I know, kind of a downer way to start, but stick with me…)  Specifically, I’ve been thinking about how Jesus was called “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).   Acquainted...

When my cousin and I were both 15 and learning to drive, I remember his dad (my uncle) saying something that stuck with me. He was talking about waiting to make sure other cars do what they’re supposed to do before you hit the gas, assuming that they’ll do what they’re supposed...

Independence Day has always been a big deal in our country. It’s the day we celebrate breaking free from tyranny. It’s about charting our own course and standing on our own two feet.  But as followers of Jesus, I think there’s something worth reflecting on this...

Let’s talk about something that sneaks in during summer if we’re not careful: the slide. The slow fade. The drift. For me, summer can sometimes mean inconsistency. I’ve got six kids. And in the summer, it feels like everything’s up in the air. Schedules are weird...

Easter Numbers Don’t Matter…Unless They Do  God gave us such an amazing Easter weekend a couple of weekends ago! We saw more people at our campuses than we have any other Sunday in the last 5+ years. Many of us brought neighbors, co-workers, and friends with us. It was a BIG...

Maundy Thursday. Jesus is betrayed, arrested, beaten. But before that. Before the cross. Before the stone rolled away. Jesus fell to the ground in a garden called Gethsemane and begged: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me." (Luke 22:42)   He's in agony. His sweat is...

Ever read something and thought, “Wow, I know exactly who needs to hear this”? I think it all the time. And as a pastor, I hear it all the time after a sermon:   “That was a great sermon, Pastor! I wish my ____________ was here to hear it.” [You fill in the...

Hello! Have you ever known a super-Christian before? I’m not being facetious (this time).  Seriously, have you ever known someone that was like…a step above most Christians? They aren’t prideful about it. Not “holier-than-thou.”  But they just walk in...

It’s January 1st, so let me ask you…what’s your resolution? Diet and exercise? Be nicer to people? Spend more time at home with the kids? Eat less donuts? Start reading these emails? I joke every year about how seldom we actually follow through on our resolutions and how we...

This week, I’ve been reflecting on something that is both incredibly simple and deeply challenging: forgiveness. I’m sure we’ve all heard Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14-15: For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do...