It’s been four years since I last updated this blog. A LOT has happened during that time. I wrote the last post right before everything shut down in March of 2020. Since then, I’ve stepped into the Senior Minister role, had two kids (one more on the way), and earned a lot of gray hairs! […]
I got an email the other day with the subject line, “An easy way to disciple women”. Being on staff at a church where discipleship is a big part of what I do, I was intrigued. I clicked on the email and then the link (just like they wanted me to) and it took me […]
What if I told you I struggled with idolatry? I’m sure some of you may be surprised, but those who know me well know it’s true. For years now it has been something I have fought daily against. Some days are better than others, but every day is a struggle. What may surprise you more […]
Several years ago I broke up with a girl. Afterwards, I had a couple of people asked me what kind of girl I was looking for. My immediate reaction was- NO THANK YOU! I’d had my fair share of blind dates set up by people who had the perfect girl for me, and I they […]
In January, my wife and I began fostering a teenage girl. She’s a sweet girl who’s been through a lot. She is not the first teenager or student we have fostered. We both have done it individually as well as together. She was with us a lot longer than anyone else. There has been so […]
A couple months ago I went down to North Carolina to help with the cleanup efforts after hurricane Florence. For the first couple days, we were gutting out houses from all the water damage. Many of the houses were not affected from the storm as much as they were from the storm surge after as […]
One of my biggest struggles is something I have dealt with my whole life. It has come out almost every week for the last 8 years I’ve been in vocational ministry. I’m an introvert. I know, I can hear you laughing. You’ve seen me in my role as a youth minister, camp dean, vacation bible […]
I believe there are decisions where Christians need to hear directly from God before proceeding. For the most part, however, God has told us what He wants and how He wants us to behave in His Word. He expects us to love Him and love people. He expects that we tell others about Him. He expects us to care for those who are in need. He expects us to serve. He expects us to pursue holiness, to chase after Him and become more like Him every day. He expects us to avoid sin, to confess when we mess up and ask for forgiveness. He expects we make restitution before Himself and others. He expects us to live in this world, in the mess of this world, without being a part of this world.
Our Heartland trip leader, Dr. Mark Ziese, is an archaeologist who has taught at Cincinnati Bible Seminary and Johnson University. Early in his marriage, he and his wife spent a year in the Heartland (Palestinian/Israeli area) on an archaeological dig. During this time, they had two young children; a son six years old and a […]
A couple weeks ago I was blessed to spend a week, to use our guide’s term, in the Heartland. The Heartland refers to the geographical area surrounding the Jordan River, Dead Sea, and Sea of Galilee. It includes present day Israel and Palestine. It is where Jesus was born, lived, and did ministry while on […]