Disclaimer: A lot of days I feel like I stink as a parent. I regularly have regrets about things I do or don't do as a dad. So the following is not coming from a place of trumpeting success. Rather, it's really just celebrating the grace of God that showed up and helped me to … Continue reading The best parenting decision I ever made
prayer
Lessons from the African Church (Part 1)
Over on the Spirit & Truth website I am starting to publish a series of reflections on my time in Nairobi, Kenya. I will also share some more personal reflections here, but I wanted to link to these articles because they share much of my heart for the church in America as I return home … Continue reading Lessons from the African Church (Part 1)
Pray. Step. Trust. (Message on Joshua 3)
This is a message I delivered at the first "Come and See" night in Allen County, Ohio on August 27, 2017. It was a night for people in the Lima area to begin to see what God is doing through reviveOHIO in bringing the church together to offer the hope of Christ to the community. … Continue reading Pray. Step. Trust. (Message on Joshua 3)
My World Flipped Upside Down
The last few months have flipped my world upside down. Things will never be the same. Starting this past fall God began stirring something up inside me unlike anything I have ever experienced. Along with a couple other pastors from our church, in September I went to a conference in Tennessee that shook me up. It forced … Continue reading My World Flipped Upside Down
Beyond a Silver Bullet
I have had the growing conviction for several years that the church in America is plagued by an insatiable desire to find the next silver bullet. We yearn for that program, that curriculum, that "best practice," that younger leader, that leader with more maturity, that congregation that will finally be open to change, that perfect … Continue reading Beyond a Silver Bullet
Sermon from 9/25/16 – “Radical Community”
Grand Lake Church: I don't often try to push my sermons on you if you missed worship, but if you missed last Sunday I would really encourage you to take a listen... http://www.grandlakechurch.org/sermons/2016/9/25/radical-community Tomorrow we'll see how the story continues...
Praying for a Great Awakening
Today I read a little booklet by David Thomas called "To Sow for a Great Awakening." It's a quick historical survey of the times of spiritual awakening that have occurred throughout history and the ways in which deep and hungry prayer preceded them all. Thing is, travailing prayer, as Thomas calls it, is not a … Continue reading Praying for a Great Awakening
When God’s People Pray
I have never been more hope-filled for the church I serve than this morning. It wasn't the flashiest thing we've ever done. We've had lots of bigger and better programs. We have more organized and polished times of worship. We've had outreach events with hundreds of people in attendance. And yet I don't know if … Continue reading When God’s People Pray
