Blogposts
Five questions you should be asking about your community
As I mentioned to you last week, I recently did a funeral for a 35-year-old’s heroin- related death. The funeral was very emotional. The turnout was decent and the speeches about the deceased were powerful...
Heroin is Killing Us
Friday will be the second funeral that I have done for a heroin-related death in three months. The first young man was 24 years old. The most recent tragedy is 35 and he has left behind an 11-year-old daughter....
Epic Easter Nap
I love Easter. As a guy who works in the church and someone who loves following Jesus, Easter has quickly become one of my most favorite holidays. Over the course of the weekend, we had seven worship celebrations with thousands of people in attendance and we celebrated....
The Scariest Place I've Ever Been
I don’t get scared very often. When I do, it is typically by something my kids are doing, like that scary feeling I get when they start running for the street. Every now and then I’ll get intimidated by a situation or humbled by an opportunity. The other day I was just straight-up scared by my surroundings. The other day I went to the scrap yard....
The day we prayed for trucks.
It was a normal Tuesday morning. Driving into work and school, we were saying our morning prayers. Every day we pray for each other, we pray for those who are sick, and we pray for several other random things. Actually, I never know what is going to come out of Caleb’s mouth....
What it really takes to change the world.
I woke up this morning reflecting on what it really takes to change the world. The last several days were amazing. Speakers like Adam Hamilton, Diana Butler Bass, Rachel Held Evans, and my own pastor, Mike Slaughter, made some incredible points on the status of the modern-day church. Each speaker had a very carefully crafted and unique message on what it takes to change the world, and yet I walked away.....
Spot Check
I have a small confession to make. Last week, while I was away with the Army I got into trouble. Someone actually pulled me aside and gave me a brief talking-to about my behavior.
I was walking through the PX (Post Exchange), chatting with my wife about what I was shopping for, when someone stopped me. He was in civilian clothes, so I didn’t know his rank, but his tone had definite authority...
What would you drink off of the floor?
The other day my wife sent me this picture of my son Caleb. Apparently he was finishing his chocolate milk when all of a sudden it plummeted from the kitchen island and spilled all over the kitchen floor. She turned around to get a towel and when she reappeared to clean up the mess there was Caleb, drinking the milk off....
Separate, but together.
For the past decade I have traveled for the Army. I’ve been around the world and had the pleasure of serving with some amazing people. Throughout that entire time, my wife has stood by my side while never actually going with me. The thing about the Army Reserves is that all my trips require me to leave, then return home. In the Army they call it TDY (temporary duty) and a steady season of TDY is one of those things that can really make or break a marriage.
The ugliest drive I've ever made.
I recently made a long drive from Ohio to Washington D.C. and I need to be honest with you; it was the ugliest drive I've ever seen. It was like God had reached down and painted the entire landscape of the nation gray. There was no sun, there were no clouds, just a gray back drop to the country side that was quite forgettable. The trees had no leaves, there was no evidence of anything that could have even possibly bloomed. There were piles of old snow, riddled with dirt and grime.