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FEATURE: New Year, Same God = Hopeful Encouragement
God’s wisdom is like a GPS for a godly life. Sadly, too many professing Christians look and listen for “wisdom” elsewhere and they jeopardize what God’s wisdom can provide them.
Saw a provocative tweet by someone with a large enough online platform. He said, "Anxiety is a sin." Hmmm. Is anxiety this narrow or more nuanced?
The question that can turn a country against itself, and also the Church. For the Christian, the answer is far more straightforward than complicated. However, what we do with that answer tends to be where the animosity rages. Let’s agree on the answer first, then build from there.
Not sure about you, but I find that sometimes some years are hard to end and some are hard to begin; sometimes we can’t wait for some years to end and the next to begin. How can we end & begin a year well? I thought about this as I read through two Psalms. What I came away with surprised me. I pray it will uplift you too.
The Church in America during the 2020s is going to be sifted apart over views of sexuality (i.e. moral subjectivism/relativism) and the Bible, because for Christians the Bible is our standard for truth and life. So where should we stand, how, and why?
In light of what's been recently happening in our country, I didn't want to be insensitive to the moment. So instead of doing the normal bible study, I decided to open up the Facebook Live to have some conversations. Praying that this will be a voice of reason, fairness, and biblical wisdom in our current season and beyond.
I was pent-up with too many emotions and thoughts yesterday and today. This recent cluster of injustices have been taxing. Each video after video sank my heart a little more. The unprofitable reactions from both believers and unbelievers, in protest and on social media, has been vexing. As I begin to type something brief, the Spirit allowed my heart to decompress with a reminder of what matters most, of what I and so many others are ultimately longing for, and of what believers on both sides need to not forget.
I recently read N.T. Wright’s article, “Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To” and Owen Strachan’s response critique, “NT Wright Is Wrong: Hope in a Time of Pandemic”. I found myself agreeing and disagreeing with both. So I figured why not write out my thoughts since we're all quarantined with time to spare. I think both sides will find agreement my response.
This was the week after we closed our church plant. That was a tough decision. But God met me and spoke to me exactly what I needed to hear at this conference. For those who find and read this, I hope the Spirit uses these takeaways to minister to you in someway as He did to me rereading them again.
It's sad that over the last 3 years more time has been spent on talking, writing, and reading regarding President Trump and American Christians. Polarizing is how it’s been and the witness of the Church of Jesus in America has taken repeated negative hits. It is more apparent that American Christians are becoming stumbling blocks to unbelievers when it comes to politics and our current President. This cannot continue.
After yet another exchange about some harm & offense brought on by my fellow reformed brethren, I wanted to share my heart with them. This is not a bash post. This is a heart plea from one reformed brethren to another.
For about a little more than a week now I’ve been reading through Amos for my morning devo with Jesus. Today I was reading through chapter 5 and I got hit with how some of the points in vv10-24 are similar of the Church’s past and applicable for the Church today.
There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is the key to our new life in Christ. But in what ways? And how so? And what does that mean for us?
In my little sphere of the world, the beginning of 2018 has dealt out much loss. Here are 10 ways to deal with loss, taken from the story of Lazarus' death in John 11:1-45. I believe these 10 are things we tend to forget when dealing with loss, but they're so beneficial for our process of grieving and moving forward. I hope this reminder is encouraging.
The new year marks an opportunity for a new beginning! Usually a new year triggers something inside of us to leave last year in last year and begin again in this new year. So let’s take a look at how God views the new year in Scripture and 4 ways we can start the year in response.
As a new year approaches, with new commitments, plans, goals, and so on, I figured what better time to post about how to go about planning and discerning God's will. I hope this blesses you like it did others in prior years.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 4 of this blog-article series, I cover “How we are to be regarding each other”.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, their similarities & differences, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 3 of this blog-article series, I cover “How things get complicated”.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, their similarities & differences, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 2 of this blog-article series, I cover “How men & women are different”.
The topic of the relationship between men and women, their roles in marriage, their treatment of each other, their consideration of each other, their similarities & differences, and so on, can be polarizing and messy. This past Sunday (5/21/17), I taught the 5th part of my church's relationship series. My topic was, “What is the big deal between men & women?”. Because of the feedback I received, I decided to post it as a blog-article series. Here in Part 1 of this blog-article series, I cover “How men & women are similar”.
Three days ago I received an email from a brother in the Lord with a most interesting question. After answering his email, I thought this would be good to post.
I am not attempting to address all the ills in our country or even the most recent ones, nor am I attempting to address why we have all these ills in our country. That said, I do want to address the Church's response (collectively and individually) to the wrongful events in our country involving discrimination and injustice in our communities.
What do you do when you have questions, problems, need guidance or advice? What about “following your heart”, what do you do for guidance in that area? What about with conviction, where do you go for counsel and accountability? Who is in your ear? What do you do?
We had our first men’s night at church (9/27/15) on the heels of the Ashley Madison scandal. We entered that night by way of heavy hearts and pastoral concern for our men. I’m posting my message from that night to warn and encourage men as we are heading into 2016.
I have had many conversations with many professing believers who have argued to me that God does not disapprove of “shacking up” (i.e. a couple living together like they are married without actually being married). Many professing believers may not even know how the Bible addresses this or if it even does or care if it does.
By now I shouldn't be surprised when I check my social media or turn on the TV and someone new is in the news for some screw up they've done that many of my fellow “Christians“ are going to share their compassionless thoughts and opinions. And the fact that I shouldn't be surprised bothers me greatly, because we as believers should expect better from us as believers in this area. This blog article is not about the Ray Rice incident. This is about a heart issue that we must address.
When the Newtown, CT tragedy took place I shared my reflections and response. I too felt the need to do the same on the Ferguson, MO situation that’s been swarming the news and web for several weeks now. I have sat, observed, and been thinking deeply about this situation.
I'm not a person big on getting involved in political issues or controversial issues. But in light of the recent news with the Supreme Court and gay marriage, I do have a few reflections.
NEWEST POSTS
I have not posted anything about my retirement from pastoral ministry since May 26, 2025, and that was on my Facebook page. I was hesitant to post this, especially since it might turn out to be nothing more than a personal realization, which is fine, as it has brought great resolve and satisfaction to my reluctant, turbulent pastoral journey. However, my posting this suggests that I think God may be up to something. We shall see.
Since God’s glory is supreme and worthy of boasting, the transformation of Job's faith is a representation of what God intends to do in each of His redeemed children's lives: move each of us from hearsay to experiential, from “I have heard” to “I have seen,” so that we may glorify God whole-heartedly no matter what we suffer, encounter, or accomplish in this life.
My aim is to walk through Daniel 3—seeing the similarities between their account and us—to demonstrate how we, as Christians, can withstand & press through the fires we face in our version of Babylon.
As I have been navigating my own transition period, I was struck with conviction when I realized the posture of my heart hasn’t been reflective of grace. The Holy Spirit took that opportunity to convict me about neglecting to reflect on the glories of God’s grace and revealed to me the reason for my heart’s sour posture & the disquietness of my mind is from a lack of gratitude.
That said, I believe we can never go wrong and will always benefit from hearing about the grace of God, especially as it is extended to us in Christ Jesus. Thus, I ask that you listen to be encouraged & exhorted by this great grace we have.
During the summer of 2022, our church hit a serious crisis. I took some time to pray and was led to the book of Joshua for a short series on “Facing Change”. If you are facing a crisis, or in a season transition, or facing some kind of significant changes in your life, then I hope this series will encourage and equip you for whatever it is you’re facing.