Over the course of the first few weeks of this year I found myself officiating a wedding, conducting a funeral, and leading a baby dedication. Indeed, the opportunity to walk alongside others in various seasons of life is one of the great privileges of pastoral ministry. It is also a reminder that part of the intended diversity of God’s people is age. Some of us are younger, some of us are older, ...  Read More

How the Cross Changes UsWhy exactly is Jesus’ death on the cross so significant? What happened on the cross that is intended to affect our daily lives? The New Testament provides at least seven different terms/pictures of what Christ accomplished on the cross and how that can change our life today.Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11-12)  As our once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin, Christ’s death offers us the...  Read More

Blessing Others  The word “bless” is used in a variety of ways in our culture, from saying “bless you” after someone sneezes to saying “bless your heart” when we feel bad for someone else. However, in the Bible, we see a rich history of God’s people blessing others; additionally, we see Jesus himself offering blessing to children in Mark 10:13-16. Below are three biblically-based ways we can bless...  Read More

Humility: The Key to the Kingdom  In addition to the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14, the Gospel of Luke includes other parables that remind us that God is not impressed with superficial outward displays of righteousness, but rather accepts those who are truly humbled by the awareness of their sinfulness and need for mercy. Below are three examples of this: The Two De...  Read More

Does God Hear My Prayer?  At times we all wonder if God hears when we pray, especially when we don’t seem to see anything happening. The Psalms are a great place to turn when we experience this, for they are filled with prayers asking God to hear and respond. Fortunately they also offer wonderful reassurance that God does hear when we pray. Below are four of my favorite Psalms verses that remind u...  Read More

I love youth retreats.  Even though I invariably get to a point where I’m ready for my own bed and to breathe in something other than adolescent body odor, there’s just something about having a large group of teenagers stuck together for an extended period of time with the specific purpose of growing their relationship with God and each other that is, dare I say, enjoyable. During a retreat studen...  Read More