We ended part one asking the question Why is life good? I’d like to answer this question today by turning to Hebrews 1, while at the same time looking at that last phrase I mentioned from my grandfather’s poem where he says, “Now death to me is the final word.” As the Apostle Paul says, death may be “the last … Read More
Life: Good or a Loosing Game? Part 1 of 2
Now that I’ve reached four score and eight And know the time has grown late Yet still I search a better way To slow the coming of that day. That evil day that comes to all For strong or weak, we all must fall. The reaper grim shall wield his blade And all the hopes and plans we’ve made Will … Read More
Connecting a Baby with the Stars
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they … Read More
Quiet Holiness for Our Digital Noise
Hey friends and family, this is a provocative and beautiful piece by one of my dear friends. Enjoy! Pixels and Prayers I wake to my screen’s soft glow,a portal to endless voices,their currents tugging at my thoughts.Notifications scatter like seeds,but what do they grow? Here, in this digital garden,every click is a choice,every scroll is a journey.Do I wander aimlessly,or … Read More
Navigating Abrupt Seasonal Changes
Fall is my favorite season that, for me, culminates with Thanksgiving. Amidst its vivid and profound themes of color, beauty, and change, are fun things like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day—one of my daughter’s and my favorite holiday traditions and something we now share with her two boys as well. As I write … Read More
What I Learned About Hope and Vocation from Parker Palmer
“Vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deepest need.” Frederick Buechner This post is a repost from 2021 and one of the reasons I’m sharing it again is because I just listened to an excellent 36-minute podcast interviewing Mr. Palmer that seems to have been done right after or near last week’s election. He is now … Read More
Ten Resources That Helped Me Survive This Political Season
I’ve never been a contestant on Survivor or a castaway like Tom Hanks, but when it comes to Christian cancel culture and politics, I’ve been voted off the island a time or two, and in ways that have left me feeling exhausted. Indeed, much of my ministry these last ten years has been not only to the de-churched, often the … Read More
The Case for Virtuous, Image-bearing Institutions and Your Part in Building Them, Part 2 of 2
We mentioned last week that Ben Sasse left politics because he felt his evangelical conservatism was better suited in this season for building a virtuous, image-bearing educational institution. Sasse’s perspective and pivot call to mind another lens that might give us a better handle on how thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers are different, or at least more than, “the sum … Read More
The Case for Virtuous, Image-bearing Institutions and Your Part in Building Them, Part 1 of 2
For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16, NRSV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, … Read More
Join Us for The After Party!
Hey Friends, I’m in the middle of 4-5 weeks of 6-7-day work weeks, full of out-of-state travel, mostly related to carpentry and fundraising. Gratefully, I’m in good spirits but would appreciate your prayers for strength and steadiness. Although it’s a busy season, God has given me several tangible encouragements lately, and I love the fall. I’m also really excited about … Read More