The Resurrection Part 1 – John 20:1-18
The following is a sermon manuscript from November 20, 2015. As an introduction, I have a question. What would have happened if Jesus stayed dead? Would he have still been someone we can put our…
Consumed by God
In 1 Kings 18, there is a recorded an event in which the power of God is put on display through fire consuming a sacrifice. Following this display of power, many people believed that the…
Fear Not, For I Am With You
This last week we had about 70 children come through our VBS program, which was called “Weird Animals… where Jesus’ love is one-of-a-kind.” They learned that no matter what happens, Jesus loves them. They might…
Book Review: The One-Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards
Have you ever asked yourself why money is important to you? It seems like such a simple question, but I challenge you to take a couple minutes to think about it. Ultimately, our sincere response…
Christ the Bringer of God
“Christ is not the bringer of a new religion, but rather the one who brings God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jesus Christ and the Essence of Christianity. Where the church has gone wrong, I believe, is that we…
Remembrance and Gratitude, A Recipe for Joy
Each day I try to read five Psalms. I start with the day of the month. Today is the 17th, so I read the 17th Psalm. Then I skip thirty, and read the 47th Psalm,…
Musings On Why Young People Leave the Church
I’m reading a book about why people leave the church after graduation. It’s called You Lost Me. There’s a statement in the beginning that caught my eye: “He and his bandmates were ‘all really embarrassed…
Book Review: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
One of the most valuable lessons I learned in college was during my internship in the office of the college president. I admired President Mark Maxwell’s leadership style. He didn’t attempt to accomplish everything that…
Review of I Still Love You by Michael Ungar
No parent wants a their child to be labeled as a “problem child,” but not many of us are confident about how to prevent that from happening. With three children of my own, and with…
Review The Third Plate by Dan Barber
We have all been told since we were children that we should eat a well-balanced diet of grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables and protein, along with an active lifestyle, in order to maintain good health and…
When Madonna and the Church have the Same Message
Do Madonna and the church offer the same message of hope? Living for Love These are the opening lyrics and the chorus for a song by Madonna titled “Living for Love” that hit #1 on…
Book Review of One Hour in Paris by Karyn L. Freedman
As a pastor, I am faced daily with the possibility that I might be required to provide comfort and assistance to people in crisis. This is why I am grateful for the knowledge and wisdom…