Nearly every parent has a story of purchasing an expensive gift for their child, only to have them find the box and packaging more fun to play with. It seems easy for children to miss the main point of the gift as they focus on what was meant to be discarded. On one level, this is a great affirmation of child-like creativity, but it also […]
Our church is currently in the midst of our annual stewardship program. This is an important part of our life together where we consider what it means to be a steward of all God gives us, and where we encourage each other to embrace more of what the Holy Spirit is asking of us. This is not about “getting people’s money,” instead; we are looking […]
The past two months, I participated in a watercolor painting class. After a little motivation from my wife (including two day classes as a Valentine’s Day gift), I decided to take the next step. It was intimidating, but enjoyable and I learned so many things about painting and about life. I expected to gain some understanding of artistic design, painting tools and watercolor techniques. What […]
I received a note on Facebook yesterday from a young woman we met on our last trip to Brazil. It was great to reconnect after two years. It is wonderful how technology allows us to keep connected over great distance. What struck me most in her note, was her word of thanks for the bag of marshmallows we left with her family. It brought back […]
Blessings arrive in the most amazing places. Sometimes, they are big gifts from God that meet significant needs in our lives, while other times, they are little acts of kindness that remind us that we are loved and appreciated. Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted […]
If you have ever been called upon to stand beside a good friend during the loss of someone they loved, then you know what an awesome gift and responsibility it is. As a pastor, I receive many opportunities to share this journey with members of my church family and others who need someone to help them through this challenging part of their journey. During these […]