An update on life.  January has been a busy month for my family and me.  After all the holiday hustle and bustle there is some natural downtime that is needed to return to the routine.  The most significant event of the new year, however, relates to my dad.  He was diagnosed in December with prostate cancer.  It was a very small spot but after some discussion and research, my parents decided for surgery. He had his surgery mid-January and has been recouping since then.  His pathology report came back clean and we are very thankful for that report. So as…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past couple of days, you have probably heard news reports of unrest and violence in Kenya.  I’m paying close attention to this for several reasons. Of course, peace around the world in the here and now is the hope and prayer for any believer. Africa has been torn apart over the years through civil war and ethnic violence. This beautiful continent needs time of healing and stability to move towards a better future.  I ache for those who have known nothing but warfare and devastation from disease.  No child deserves the theft…

Here is a link to my sermon from today.  I finished our Senior Pastor’s sermon series titled "Keeping Jesus at the Center".  The text was Titus 2:11-14 and the title was "Living with the End in Sight". Blessings and Happy New Year!

The wonderful and talented Jen Lemen created this print for the good folks at www.coolpeoplecare.org. It is an awesome print – both in the artistic design as well as the inspiring words.  I ordered one for a central inspiration piece in my office. It is a nice mantra to say every day.  Can you picture me standing at the door, hand over heart, reciting this aloud as I head out the door?  No?  You should. Anyway, if you are so inspired, go check it out and her other creations at http://jenlemen.etsy.com. 

When I was in high school I read a book that overall is not a book of classic greatness or literary genius.  Although I still spy it on occasion in certain bookstores along with more popular novels by the author, it doesn’t seem to have garnered much favor with readers nor is it one that I have ever recommended to others. And I’m not recommending it now.  But there was one brief passage in this book that completely captured me and became a descriptive image of what I feel often in my life. After one reading of this particular scene,…

It is a winter wonderland in my neck of the woods this weekend.  We had a pretty significant ice storm that rolled through mid-Missouri starting last night and throughout the day. With a solid coating of ice on everything, many tree limbs have fallen throughout the morning bringing with it loud popping sounds and an enormous amount of debris.  With some of the fallen limbs knocking out power lines, there are approximately 13,000 in town without power or at least they were earlier in the day.  Hopefully, it will be back up soon. These are pictures from my house today. …

I would like to invite you to go to this website and watch this beautiful and powerful e-card from World Vision.  And while you are at check out their amazing gift catalogue.  There are many wonderful gifts that you can purchase on behalf of friends and family while making a difference in the world.  I purchased two goats two years ago for my grandmas and for some of my volunteer staff at church. I printed off a card from World Vision to let them know about their purchase and also bought a little beanie goat to give them as a…

Here is the holiday cleansing Friday Five from Revgals: Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal…. 1) dessert/cookie/family food Fruitcake has got to be the nastiest food invention ever.  Any food that is a standard holiday joke should make one wonder. 2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc…) Eggnog is disgusting. It sounds disgusting. It tastes disgusting. No matter what you put in it, it remains disgusting. 3) tradition (church, family, other) As far as traditions go, I enjoy the few that we have as family and as a church. Obviously,…

Recently I posted some thoughts about the upcoming movie The Golden Compass after the many forwards and invites I was receiving requesting I join the boycott of the film due to the writer’s strong athiest agenda in his trilogy of books. With the movie’s release day upon us, here is another review that I wanted to pass along to all of you.  The movie reviewer answers several questions that are very helpful as you do some critical thinking about your response to this film.  I especially want to share one of his responses below.  Hat tip to Carmen. Why are…

In August, I assumed responsibility for missions at the church where I have served the past 8 years as youth pastor.  Missions, evangelism, and strategic planning have been added to my responsibilities (in addition to the youth).  It is a load, indeed, but with excellent and willing volunteers and my commitment to the call to equip the saints, it is doable. I am in the prelimineray stages as I think big picture about missions and what that looks like for congregation.  I have been working with our Missions Committee the past few months to develop a strategic plan for guiding…