Astonished

Growing up, my aunt and uncle in Michigan had a large property with a big pond. We would often pull out the fishing rods, scatter in different areas and go to work trying to see who would get the first catch. You’d want to run over to the same spot because it was lucky, right? […]

Living as Collective Contributors

School shootings. Hurricanes. Human trafficking. Heroin overdoses. Tsunamis. Tornadoes. Addiction. Divorce. Death. Suicide. Brokenness. Sin. Pride. Selfishness. Anger. Lust. These things are all bleak. When we hear “God wants to redeem and restore all things” we can easily move to “Where was God?” And while this is in no way an exploration into the depths of […]

Where will you restore?

If we’re honest, it is really hard not to compartmentalize. For most of us reading this, myself included, we live in a world where everything has its place and needs to know its place. Often, many of these bear labels that help shape the identity when in those places. The sole purpose of a barista […]

What are you Reproducing?

My toddler doesn’t like coffee because he thinks it is good. He likes coffee because he has grown up watching mommy and daddy drink coffee first thing in the morning and multiple times throughout the day. This past week I learned that he sees the Starbucks logo and will instantly say “Get coffee. Coffee store.” […]

All We Like Sheep

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. – John 10:14-15 (ESV) When I was in kindergarten, I got to play the role of Babe. You know – the […]

Rethink: This is (c)hurch

I remember the first time I stepped foot in the student facility at the local church I currently serve at. In my head I thought “wow, this is WAY cooler than what I remember from my own experience.” But – being honest – I don’t really remember the facility of my experience growing up. It […]

Rethink: Student Ministry

Almost four months into 2017 and the reality sticks with me. Something has to change. The culture has changed. Technology is constantly moving, aggressively thrusting students to and fro at will. Do this. Be this. Watch this. Buy this. In our community everyone plays sports and no one plays sports. If you play a sport […]

Reminders for My Day: After the Election

Leaving a house packed with high school students last night I remember driving with a sick feeling in my stomach. This whole election had me out of sorts not because I feared the results but because I grieved what I saw in the families and students God has entrusted me with. Speech filled with hatred, […]

Concrete Disciple – Pray. Go. Keep On. [Luke 10]

Luke 10 shows Jesus issuing a command to 72 whom he has sent out – if you haven’t read it (Luke 10:1-12) go read it quick or click here. Jesus issues a few truths which I want to tackle this morning as important reminders for though of us who have been entrusted to bring the […]

Gospel I.D. – Learner

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6 Today we focus on the 1st of four parts of Gospel Identity for concrete thinkers. The attribute of learner – “as disciples of Jesus we embrace a life of learning his ways […]