Church in a strange but familiar place…

I hate to admit that coming home, and going to church with our old church family was strange, but it was. We were received well, and it was nice being there, but it’s just strange being where we used to be. I feel that in the time we’ve been gone, Jen and I have changed. [...]

Vacationing and Loving It…

I have gotten to spend several great days visiting with family. Hugs, turkey, and pumpkin pie, does it get much better than that? We are having a nice relaxing time away from ministry, and church. Sometimes, it is just good to get away. I like this time of year, it seems that we get to [...]

A Lot To Be Thankful For…

Scripture of the day: Monday, November 22, 2004
A word from the Word: Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17
“13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with [...]

Re-cap of Sunday Night

I had a Winterfest meeting last night after church. I have about 30 kids signed up to go, and the ones that went last year are stoked for January.
Last night at our devotional we talked about being an imitator of Christ, and what that means. We also talked about how sometimes we let garbage [...]

Thinking Through Calling/Vocation, etc.

Lately, I’ve been real contemplative. My wife and I have been praying, making some choices that will effect our futures, and feel confident with what we’ve decided. When you ask God to make clear a path, or any direction that you’re facing. Be prepared for Him to answer. Sometimes, He let’s us choose, and I [...]

Ouch…

In my Bible class, one of our assignments has been to read, and evaluate several of our class mates research paper. There is nothing quite like learning your paper was lacking some serious academic muscle.
Hopefully, I will get the hang of this graduate school writing stuff, and Turabian style won’t be an entrance requirement [...]

Unpacking the Gospel…

If the Gospel is such good news, why do we mope around our auditoriums and church hallways on Sunday and Wednesdays? Where is the excitement that accompanies the missional nature of the Gospel? Have we too quickly placed our enthusiasm for Jesus, and even talking about Him to others in the same place we’ve placed [...]

Something a little less lengthy

Okay, I admit, sharing the research paper was a little much. So today, I thought I would post something a little less in size.
Have you seen the movie, Ella Enchanted. It’s a cute film, my one year old is enthralled by the thing. I kid you not, she watches it several times a day, and [...]

Taking a break from my paper

I have a major paper due tomorrow. I am happy to announce that I have started on it. I was a little leary how things were going to turn out, but it seems so far, that things are progressing quite nicely.
I have had to be rather distant this week from my family. I haven’t seen, [...]

The Brain and Video Games

Carson Reed had an interesting post about violent video games and the brain. If you are in youth ministry or have teenagers that play video games, especially the violent ones, you have to check this out.
“More from the Economist:Video Game Violence
In the study mentioned in yesterday’s blog more interesting things emerge. Functional brain-imaging challenges [...]