Pastoral
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Cursed and Waiting
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival,” and it is a time when the Church has prepared its heart for the arrival of the King. It is a time of waiting, of reminding ourselves where our hope lies, and re-focusing on our anticipation for the second coming of Christ. Tradition tells us that Advent Continue reading
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Four Years Later—A New Chapter
Four years ago, I wrote a blog on this website describing my new position at Village Church of Lincolnshire as Associate Pastor. Looking back at that time, we so clearly saw God’s hand leading us to VCL, opening doors in amazing and surprising ways. I didn’t know what was on the horizon, but I knew Continue reading
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He Turneth All to Gold
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’ll let you in on a secret: I love the work of the poet-pastor George Herbert (late 16th Century). His poems, regarded as some of the best ever written in the English language, so clearly encapsulate the life of faith. Herbert chose, instead of the avant-garde life of Continue reading
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Jesus at the Door
I hate our doorbell. Before we bought our house I never once rang the door, but now it is a constant torment. Why? Well, it’s not a normal, sweet-sounding doorbell. Circa the early 90s, it is a customizable (but wholly unintelligible) electric doorbell system that has been programed to chime the tune (I think) to Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee! as Continue reading
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Poems from Prayer
One of my faith heroes is the poet/pastor George Herbert. Inspired by his love of verse, I’ve been writing poems as part of my daily prayer routine. I thought I’d share some with you… Seeing and Blind (Isaiah 9) Light for one, darkness anotherClarity, vapid black.To the Word and Testimony!A call! Repent! Come back! Those Continue reading
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The Blessed Life
The word “blessed” gets a bad rap. The prosperity peddlers and profiteers have corrupted it, made it into a commodity, the result of secret knowledge, or the sign of our inherent goodness. But when we read Aaron’s blessing in Numbers 6, we get a different idea of what it means to be blessed: The Lord Continue reading
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“In Christ” at Christmas
This week as we go into our family rooms, Christ goes there too. We take the fragrance of his love with us. Continue reading
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Sex and “Purity Culture”
How One Youth Pastor Teaches Sexuality to Youth About two years ago, I met with most of the parents of our youth at our church. The reason I’d gathered them was because of our upcoming youth group series on sexuality, entitled God and My Sexuality. I knew there’d be questions, but I also knew the situation was Continue reading
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Growing in Virtue in 2021
A Yearly Disappointment It is estimated that at least fifty percent of people in the US (and that means you too) will be living with new, stringent rules by Friday (New Year’s Day). Statistically, your new rules for life probably sound something like this: eat healthier or lose weight; exercise more; save money or stop Continue reading
Revival and Renewal 