BLOG-ARTICLES
FEATURE: Tough Topics
In 2022, I was asked to address my unique calling of bridge building in the Church. You can think of this as some relational practices within a faith family filled with fallen people.
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.
Who would’ve thought Christmas Day being on Sunday would stir up such hostility between Christians? Is the argument for not canceling worship services on Sunday biblically valid? Why is the day we worship such a big deal to some and not to others? Is there a resolve for this apparent issue?
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.
I’m not a prophet, but from the landscape I see, I’ve been pondering what the future of local churches in America will look like. Here are some of my thoughts.
Here’s my short, hot take on Jonathan Edwards after reading John Piper’s book on preaching.
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.
After seeing a tweet by a scholar, I'm wondering how many believers may have a misunderstanding about the relationship of “faith” & “the gospel”. There appears to be a piece missing that he and others aren’t getting. I hope this sharpens our understanding about this gospel topic.
The emphasis on reaching or breaking the “200 barrier” and the focus by pastors & churches on “getting butts in the seats” has been a long-lived pet peeve of mine. The local church is not a business. Our bottom line is not “numbers” or “profit”. But how does numerical growth consist with the local church?
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.
Just some brief thoughts on how impactful this movie is and how necessary it is for the Church in America.
I’ve been watching and reading about the unfruitful exchange within the Church regarding social justice. Wanted to share my snapshot of what I believe is abundantly clear and, unfortunately, on display to the world.
This story should shake Christians, especially pastors/leaders, to the core. This whole situation is more than devastating and the shooter’s rationale is blasphemous of the name of Jesus.
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.
The story of Jemel Roberson is truly a hero’s tragedy. The Church in America cannot afford to get this one wrong. Christian conservatives cannot fall asleep on the job for this one. The lost life of this young man should rally the American Church together, not to make an enemy of the police but to stand in solidarity about this reoccurring problem in our country.
Many Christians give many reasons why they aren't engaged in carrying out the Great Commission. In this final blog of this 4-part series, I address the most common reasons why most Christians don't make disciples and why some of those reasons are lame, irresponsible, disobedient, and dangerous.
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.
A fellow brother, whom I once pastored, asked if I could “provide a biblical example(s) where the apostles/disciples stood up and spoke out against social injustices.” Below is my response. I wrote this with, any believer who may also want to know this, in my mind. May we hear God’s heart and all be edified.
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.
The 2016 Presidential Election is over. But the fallout is not. So, allow me to be one of the biblically-reasonable voices in the sea of gloom, uncertainty, and hypocrisy.
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.
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.
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.