I have had people tell me what I am supposed to believe regarding immigration as a follower of Jesus Christ. I find that one of the most repugnant lines of religious abuse is found in the formula, “If you follow Jesus, then you will agree with (fill in the blank)!” I see no difference between…
I play video games. As a middle-aged man, north of forty, I feel like I just admitted to being immature, unproductive, and generally juvenile. I find that video games are a good way to unwind my mind. My StrengthsFinder profile reveals that I have input, learner, and ideation . . . Meaning that my mind…
I am preaching through the parables of Matthew 13, and in Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus explains the extreme value of his kingdom through a story about a pearl trader who discovers the greatest pearl. This man, who knows a lot about pearls, goes all in and sells all that he has to obtain this pearl. Jesus…
I try to wrap up the end of the year with a blog about books and resources I have read that have been beneficial for my walk with Jesus. I am not sharing these as wholesale endorsements. I am not paid to recommend anything. I find that reading and listening to good books is a…
I am writing from the warmth of a coffee shop, but outside the snow is gently falling. Forecasters are saying that it will stop gently falling and will begin ferociously falling in the next few hours resulting in a real winter for West Michigan. Some people will say “finally!” Others will say, “Go Away!” I…
This blog is not written to make you feel guilty. It is more of a confession that I will let you all in on with the hopes that it moves us all along further down the road to gratitude. So let me state at the outset, that I can be a class A complainer. Within…
Thanksgiving is perhaps my favorite holiday. I’m not a huge fan of turkey, cranberry sauce, or stuffing. Don’t get me wrong, I will still have my share of food on Thanksgiving Day, but the traditional foods are not what I look forward to most. Instead, what I look forward to are a different kind of…
I have seen an increasing trend in society over the past few years and since I am not a cultural scientist or a pollster, I would like to use this blog as a bit of research to see if you agree with this perceived trend. I believe that people are both hungry for relationships and…