For the last few months, I have been in a study on the book of John, and it has reminded me of God’s fulfilled promise to Adam and Eve, Abram and Sarai, Moses and the Israelites, and to us: God’s love through Jesus, who is the Messiah, fully God and fully man, who came to redeem His people. He brought us back into the right relationship with the Father. He was the one and only one who could be the...  Read More

This past weekend, my neighborhood had a block party. I love block parties. They are such a fun way for a community of people to get together and enjoy one another’s company. However, sometimes things can get a little squirrely. Our squirreliness came when one little boy decided to go on an adventure.While playing in a small patch of woods, he decided to walk along a little creek without anyone kn...  Read More

“Mom!” It’s the one word that I hear most often throughout the day—more times than I care to count. It is frequently followed by some kind of complaint about a sibling.“Mom, she took my pencil.”“Mom, he is sitting in my spot!”“Mom, she looked at me!”“Mom, he hit me!”All of the sudden, a normal Thursday morning has turned into a full-scale investigation and court room drama over a pencil, a seat, o...  Read More

No one enjoys being tested. Whether it's an exam in school, a difficult season at work, or an unexpected trial in life, testing is rarely something we welcome. Yet James begins his letter with a surprising command: "Count it all joy... when you meet trials of various kinds" (James 1:2).James is not saying that suffering is enjoyable. Rather, he calls believers to rejoice because of what God is acc...  Read More

Dave and I just returned from a trip to Florida. While traveling by car, I kept thinking about creation.We saw so many different shades of green. There was light green, dark green, yellow-green, gray-green, blue-green, and dozens, if not hundreds, of other shades of green. Then there were the flowers and flowering plants in countless beautiful colors. In addition to that, we saw the blues, greens,...  Read More

As you may know, I am about to depart on a three month sabbatical from ministry. After seven years of replanting Heartland Church I am definitely ready for an extended period of rest. As I prepare to leave, I find myself very contemplative regarding the necessity of rest and how it is critical in seeing the heart refocused on Jesus. I would love for you to join me in thinking about this for your l...  Read More