I am preparing to teach our youth group on Sunday night on the topic of Hinduism. I have a Masters Degree in Islam and a minor in comparative religions integrated with my Bachelors of Religious Education. I am not trying to set up my credentials, but to make sure anybody reading this knows that I…
Despite what many assume, I did not name Leah after a princess from a well known science fiction movie that came out in 1978, even though her brother’s name is Luke. She is named straight up for the Biblical character introduced in Genesis 29. And I feel like I need to clarify that we didn’t…
Last night something amazing happened. But to capture how amazing it was, I need to take you back about 5 years to a basement in a housing development in Mattawan, Michigan. It was the Sunday morning after Easter in 2009. 14 adults and 17 kids gathered together. It took about 3 minutes to set up…
Linda and I just returned late on Tuesday night from a seven night stay at an all inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. I had saved up money to take Linda there for her birthday. (35th or something like that . . .) We were both very ready for a vacation from…
As some of you may have heard, a few men from ReCAST went camping last weekend. I’ll give you a minute to put two and two together. Yes, “polar vortex” last weekend. Yes, camping, like thin nylon tents and sleeping-bags camping. When sharing about this now annual adventure of ours, I’ve heard responses that usually…
What will you make of 2014? 2013 is wrapping up and we can reflect on this past year, but the next year is a blank book waiting to be written. And so with only a couple of weeks left to plan your strategy, let me encourage you to make this next year a year of…
My heart is broken today. Last night one of the members of our church called and left a voicemail on my phone as he made the rounds, trying to reach one of us pastors. By his voice, I knew it might be one of those calls that no one wants to receive. I called him…
Cue up the Christian slogans, another Christmas is here. “Put the Christ back in X-mas!” “Jesus is the reason for the Season!” “It’s pronounced ‘Merry Christmas’, NOT ‘Happy Holidays!’” Actually, I made that last one up, but I wouldn’t be surprised to get it back on a Facebook post pretty soon. As a Christian who…