I had the opportunity to preach at Trinity Church in Lansing this past Sunday on Romans 8:31-39. Romans 8:31 and Romans 8:37 are home run verses that we love (and I love), but if we’re not careful they can become verses we take out of context and use to formulate a theology that bad things […]
Podcast Interview with Pastor / Author Zachary Bartels
Episode #7 of “Behind the Curtain” Ministry Podcast is here! In this interview I talk with Zachary Bartels on the balance of being both a pastor and a Christian fiction author. We talk about the required “self-promotion” of the author world and the safeguards that have to be put in place to make sure this […]
A Christian’s Guide to Gay Marriage
With gay marriage now legal throughout the United States, it’s important that Christians understand how to navigate these waters in biblically loving and biblically true ways. I think it’s important to start out by briefly explaining why the Bible is so important to Christians (or at least, is supposed to be). The Bible is where […]
Why “All Ways Lead to God” Offends Me
It’s very politically correct nowadays to say that all ways lead to God. Your view, my view and their view are all equally true, and to say otherwise is extremely offensive. This offends me. This first and foremost offends my intellect because it simply doesn’t make sense. If I believe
One Church Liturgy Prayer for Charleston
This past Sunday, my church participated with churches across the country in praying the “One Church Liturgy,” a prayer of lament for our fallen brothers and sisters in Charleston, SC. It was a powerful experience. The liturgy was written by Rev. Leroy Barber (CCDA board member, Executive Director of Word Made Flesh) and the Imago […]
What does the Bible say about insecurity?
What does the Bible say about insecurity? Failure, Insecurity as a Striving Pastor & Finding My Soul in Jesus Much of my 10 years as a church planter have been riddled with anxiety, performance and self-striving. When I started out in 2005, I envisioned leading thousands of people to Jesus…for Jesus’ glory of course. The […]