As a parent, one of the best things about the holidays is the extra time you get to spend with your children. This is also an incredible opportunity for teaching, giving, and memory making. Maybe you already have some Christmas traditions. If not, think about starting some this year or adding some new ones…
During the holiday season, we are reminded of what it means to give. Many times, we are encouraged to give financially, give to nonprofits, give gifts…all things that require giving material goods. But what about serving people? Both giving and serving are great ways to help others and make a huge impact, but I think that we forget to do both during this season…
One of the questions I have had many times in my experience as a Christian is, "Am I sure I will go to heaven?" A little context might help here...see, I grew up in a Christian home, I've been going to church as long as I can remember. I was ‘saved’ and baptized at an early age, went to Sunday school every week…
Have you ever thought, “Church is just boring.” No? Just me? Go ahead then, judge me, I can take it. I have sat through many services criticizing everything going on, imagining how I could do it better, and just wishing the service would end so I could leave. I was bored. It was boring. I wanted more…
I believe God has created individual plans for His followers that are as unique and creative as each one of us. Sadly, I also believe many of us will never even begin to tap into the potential that God has placed within us. What could Christians achieve for God’s Kingdom if each one of us walked in faith following God’s true plan for our lives…
Psalm 23 is one of the most famous Bible passages of all time. I read the passage often because it consistently serves as a reminder of who I am, who God is, and how the Lord desires to lead me. As I was reading Psalm 23 one day recently, I begin to consider the fact that for many years in my life, I lived in rebellion to the Lord as my shepherd. Quite honestly, I did not want Him to shepherd or lead me at all…
I recently had some trouble with my lawn mower. The blade wasn’t engaging and therefore I wasn’t getting any grass cut. My motor was full throttle, but the blade was not making any progress. This problem with my mower is the same problem some church members have: they are disengaged with the Church. Their motor still works, but…
Have you ever planned a trip to get away, relax, refuel and spend time with family only to find yourself and those you have pulled away to spend time with totally immersed in your devices? Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Netflix…the list goes on and on. It’s crazy to look around and see how drawn to our devices we can be…
School is back in session, and it would be difficult to find a family that’s not busy. Work, sports practices, games, rehearsals, lessons, homework, doctor’s appointments, and countless other activities keep our calendars full. Among all of the busyness, I would argue that it would also be difficult to find a family that doesn’t long for closer relationships and connection…
In life, we often get so wrapped up in day-to-day tasks and we forget to take care of bodies. Through Scripture, we know that God calls us to value our bodies. Our bodies are said to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to take care of and honor God's temple. God's Word lead us to use our bodies and the gifts He has given us to achieve everything else that He's called us to do. What better way to hold us accountable of taking care of bodies than to train for a 5K…
Here is an observation from thirty years of ministry. Every member of a church is either growing in his or her commitment to that church, dying in his or her commitment, or maintaining in his or her church commitment. Honestly, maintaining usually doesn’t happen that much. The truth is, most church members are becoming more committed or less committed over time…
Summer. What does that mean for you? For some it is a time to rest, getting caught up on that never ending list, and spending quality time with family. Well, at least that is what we all hope for. You know there is something about the summer season when people hope for time to slow down, allow for rest, and things to get reset…
One of the best ways to foster community is enjoying a meal together. What better time to come together than summer? Summer nights have a way of bringing people around the table for relaxed conversation and fun. We'd like to help you build community by providing some delicious recipes for your summertime menu…
You are probably thinking the title of this blog post has a major typo. It doesn’t. Yes, we typically talk about the disciples in terms of a dozen men Jesus spent the most time with and personally trained to eventually oversee His mission. No question, Jesus did have twelve disciples in whom He strategically invested. However, He also had three disciples that He took to a different level than the twelve…
