Is there a certain area of your life where you are constantly tempted? I am listening to an audio book this week. It is called How Much Land Does a Man Need? by famed Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). Tolstoy is famous for his mammoth works like Anna Karenina or War and Peace, as wellContinue reading “How much land does a man need? and other temptations and discontentment”
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How repentance is actually beautiful – Luke 3:1-20
The word “repent” conjurs up horrible images. Awful, judgmental images. Hellfire and brimstone preachers. They scare me. How could “repent” be anything but an ugly word? This past Sunday we studied John the Baptist. You can check out the sermon here. It was looking at Luke 1:80 briefly and then Luke 3:1-20. Luke records JohnContinue reading “How repentance is actually beautiful – Luke 3:1-20”
When a lost child can you teach about being on a mission – Luke 2:21-42
Last week I told you the story of how I lost my son at the water park. Jared was missing for about five minutes in a huge crowd. I was very scared. Michelle and I had gone opposite directions to try to find him. I had looked at a couple pools, and he was nowhereContinue reading “When a lost child can you teach about being on a mission – Luke 2:21-42”
That time my son got lost in the water park…
Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an amusement park that also has an awesome water park. Tons of water slides, a huge wave pool, a bunch of specialty pools, and other cool water rides. I know because I was there about five years ago, with our family and what seemed like one hundred thousand otherContinue reading “That time my son got lost in the water park…”
Simeon (the Bucket List guy) and why Evangelicals need to focus a whole lot more on Mary – Luke 1:46-55; 2:21-40
So what do you think about Mary, the mother of Jesus? With this past Sunday’s sermon we concluded the story of the birth of Jesus. Luke shows us clearly through the words of his mother, Mary, and through Anna and Simeon, the amazing significance of Jesus. Mary, Simeon and Anna had a passionate focus onContinue reading “Simeon (the Bucket List guy) and why Evangelicals need to focus a whole lot more on Mary – Luke 1:46-55; 2:21-40”
Blog Year in Review – Best of 2014?
I think I’m going to have to “grade on the curve”. You know how a teacher removes the highest and lowest student grades, and then regrades a test best on the remaining results? One post was the most popular for the second year in a row. In fact, this post received more than twice asContinue reading “Blog Year in Review – Best of 2014?”
Angel wings, Candle lighter, Blocks of Wood – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/29/2014
My office is tidy Friday, mysteriously messy on Monday. Here’s what I found today. 1. Angel wings. For real. The kind of angel wings that a child might wear in a Nativity play. Except that this set of angel wings wasn’t worn by a child! At our Christmas Eve service, one of our young menContinue reading “Angel wings, Candle lighter, Blocks of Wood – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/29/2014”
If God guaranteed one thing on your bucket list would happen before you die, what would you choose?
Did you cross anything off your bucket list in 2014? Get married? Travel somewhere? Perform physical feat? This year my family drove from Lancaster, PA, to Austin, TX, to visit my wife’s cousin and his family. Though it was not coast-to-coast, it was the longest we had ever driven, and the first time for mostContinue reading “If God guaranteed one thing on your bucket list would happen before you die, what would you choose?”
On shouting a Christmas message that can get you killed – Luke 2:1-20
It’s Christmas Eve! My younger kids (age 9 and 11) are charged with excitement, begging to open just one gift, or at least put them under the tree. They cannot contain themselves. At Faith Church we’re looking forward to a wonderful time of worship tonight. We’ve had artists from our congregation creating art to illustrateContinue reading “On shouting a Christmas message that can get you killed – Luke 2:1-20”
Computer, Health Insurance, Serve Team papers – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/22/14
My office is tidy Friday, mysteriously messy on Monday. Here’s what I found today: 1. An old, but working computer in a cardboard box. This one is not a mystery. My cousin Eric donated the computer, and I picked it up last week. It is a 2009 Dell in very good condition. We don’t haveContinue reading “Computer, Health Insurance, Serve Team papers – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/22/14”
Engaging Scripture 