500 years ago a Roman Catholic monk nailed 95 theses to the Wittenberg door. And 500 years down the road, the echoes of that hammer still ring loudly in the faith of many. I have been guided by men I have never met. My faith has been shaped and protected by the sacrifices of others.…
This may seem presumptious as a pastor writing about ways to bless your pastor. Self-serving much? But I honestly think that it may be of benefit to the few who read my blog who do not attend ReCAST church to hear from a pastor what is a regular blessing and encouragement to me. 1. Tell…
I just got home from attending a three day conference in Nashville for Pastors and worship leaders. It was an amazing experience for a variety of reasons. Often, attending a conference is like drinking from a fire-hose. This was no different. But here is my attempt to give the highlights of conference. 1. We didn’t…
5 Reasons I am Visiting our Missionaries in Indonesia
September 14, 2017
Last week, my wife and I bought plane tickets for us and our daughter to visit friends from our church who are missionaries in Indonesia. I am looking forward to this trip for many reasons, but the central reason comes from the relationship we have with these specific missionaries. They are friends who we have…
I have a list of scriptures that I have been praying over for my kids for nearly a decade. I was moved when I attended men’s retreat over ten years ago to take up this practice. And so here are 5 of the bajillion reasons I pray for my kids almost every morning. 1. My…
I have evolved in my view of church buildings. When we first started ReCAST I saw that we needed a place to meet but since those started the church would all fit in a basement, it seemed like a pretty small issue. I had a sense of smugness in my own heart toward those who…
5 Reasons to Not Monitor or Limit Internet Access for Your Kids
August 17, 2017
There are unintended consequences to being an earlier adopter to the iPhone. I have had an iPhone since the 3g and have upgraded every couple of years. This meant then passing my old iPhones down to my children as an “iPod” so that they could play games and use the old one as a music…
We live in a day and age of unparalleled intellectual sharing. There is this amazing thing I have been using called the internet. I can find the weather forecast, pictures of my friend’s cat, and what someone I barely know ate for dinner yesterday. All of this is just a couple of clicks away! And…
I have been seeking to be more attentive to the joys of life all around me. There is good. There is beauty. There is awe and wonder. And if you are anything like me, you need to fight for it! As we get older, the things that produced awe and wonder in us when we…
What does it feel like to age? I have heard it said that the days are long and the years are short and that has made more and more sense to me. I feel like I can look back on the past three decades and see how small decisions have created a life that defines…
Although many will recognize the acronym in the title as standing for Vacation Bible School anyone who has actually worked a VBS knows it could very well stand for Very Busy Schedule. Last week we wrapped up our annual VBS. We combine forces with another Mattawan Church. They have a facility and we have a…
We have a saying around my house that is often said and little applied, “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.” We say that a lot. My family is verbal and loud and I’m not sure where they got it because my wife wasn’t raised that way . . . After…
