Joshua TakeAways

Be strong and courageous. It well could be the anthem of the book of Joshua in the Old Testament as God calls and commissions Joshua to lead His people into the Promised Land. It’s spoken into his life in chapter 1 and it’s something that Joshua reminds the people as the book comes to a […]

LOVE > hate

I’m typing this, still in disbelief that I’m writing this in the United States of America and the year 2017. Let me be clear. Hate and racism is wrong everyday and in every possible way. I’m disgusted by what’s been unfolding in Charlottesville, VA and I’m reminded of a simple truth the Apostle Paul writes in […]

Where’s Your Seat?

Where’s your favorite chair? Is it in your house? Was it in the house you grew up in? Or maybe it’s in someone else’s house, it’s the one you look to make sure no one is sitting there at you enter and as you try to move the conversation into that room. Is it in […]

Unhurried Living

Life moves fast. Perhaps too fast. Sometimes so fast that it can almost feel like you’re missing out on living it. When life becomes hurried – it actually begins to rob you of life. So, what’s the alternative? Become a couch potato? Do nothing? Say ‘no’ to everyone? Probably not. That’s not living either. Is […]

Church & You

I love the Church. Not just the church I get to serve, but THE Church. The one entrusted to carry the message of the grace of Christ forward to each generation. The one vehicle of God’s message that He promised would never fail, but always prevail. The one enlisted to move the movement of Jesus […]

The Labeling Effect

Labels are a part of life. From labels on clothing, to labels we use to organize our files, to the labels on jars, bottles and cans. There’s labels we assign to products and services giving our approval or disappointment. We navigate relationships by assigning labels to people’s character and interactions. We can’t help but label […]

Be Quick

Be Quick. It seems to be the normal pace of life. Quick to go do. Quick to read through. Quick to share our opinion. Quick to move on. But in reading through James with my Egroup guys, we’re being reminded what the greatest tip toward ‘quickness’ is to God. James 1:19-20 says this: 19 My dear […]

Listen More

The following is a simple concept, but one that is life-giving. To you and others. It’s one that can revolutionize your relationships. It can be said in a sentence, but takes a lifetime of practice to fully engage in well. If you want to have better friendships. If you want to be a better leader. […]

Press on

Remember that moment when all seemed right in the world and you were walking tall. Then it came fast on your heals, that moment where you wanted to quit. Failure came your way. Fear jumped up to hinder your progress. Shame’s shadow overwhelmed you. Rejection came a knocking. Fatigue set up shop within your soul. […]

The Best Music

They say music can comfort the soul and move people like nothing else. It’s true. If we had a conversation about genres, bands, taste in music and favorite songs – chances are, we’d find some different preferences. We’d probably find some commonality as well. There is a song that plays, that invites us all to […]

Round the Bases

I got to watch my son’s baseball team yesterday in their last regular season game. We were in a small town north of Tucson. Kearny, AZ. It was there in a small town, that I witnessed a big time demonstration of compassion. In fact, maybe it was more than that. Sports sometimes captures moments that […]

This is That

Sometimes a picture or story captures vision better than any sermon or lecture. We talk a lot about what ‘biblical community’ should look like. That we’re encouraged in Scripture to intertwine our lives – that the connected life is better than the surrounded life. Connected means: “I’m in your corner” and you’re in mine. We […]

Keep Going

A simple reminder. Yesterday can not be replayed. Today is a NEW day. So, whether you’ve got hurdles to overcome or you’re mulling over regrets from the past. You can’t go back. You can stay stuck – by why? 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I […]

Over and Out

We just left the scene. Sure we tried to clean it up the best we could, but we knew there would be a residue that would remain for awhile. At Chipotle none-the-less. How could we desecrate such a great place… It was just soda. Mr. Pibb to be exact. All over the table. All over […]

1 Minute Online

I found this info graphic on another pastor’s blog last week – Brandon Cox and was so struck by it. It’s the assessment of the internet usage and activity during a ONE minute interval. As you see it – it might shock you, it might stun you, you might simply see it as another piece […]