Tomorrow morning is a significant day for my family and me. One year ago, I was blessed with a successful colon cancer surgery. Tomorrow, I return to the operating room for my 49th surgery. As I begin my 71st journey around the sun, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. God has sustained my life through…Read more Seventy-One Trips Around the Sun
Friendship
A Personal Health Update—and a Word of Hope
Over the past several weeks, many friends have graciously asked about my health. Rather than trying to answer everyone individually, I wanted to share this brief video update. The doctors have confirmed that I am continuing to lose blood, but despite many tests, they have not yet been able to identify the source of the…Read more A Personal Health Update—and a Word of Hope
Promises Define Us!
Promises My promises define who I am. I have made promises to my beautiful wife, Rebekah, to our family, to our church, and to our community. I make those promises because of the promise God has made to us—a promise He has faithfully kept. In Scripture, God calls His promises covenants. To illustrate the power and…Read more Promises Define Us!
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Holocaust Remembrance Day "They had seen and smelled the death camps, and now they were able to realize that all along they had been ... fighting for something positive, the sacredness of life itself. ... After the camps, a moral attitude was rampant. ... The boys' explosive little tour in France had been a crusade…Read more Holocaust Remembrance Day
Mattering
Mattering—the title caught my eye. Yesterday I read a review of Jennifer Wallace’s new book. The author makes a point we emphasized many times at Woodland Church: every new person who walks in for morning worship, Elevation, or a small group is silently carrying two questions: Will you love me? Will you accept me? In…Read more Mattering
Our Vision Sustains Us: A Pastor’s Recovery from Cancer Surgery
Hi Family, My recovery from cancer surgery is moving along slowly but steadily. At times I want to press ahead more quickly, but my doctors, nurses, and therapists remind me that healing takes patience. What keeps me anchored in this season is a vision God gave Becky and me many years ago. I remember it…Read more Our Vision Sustains Us: A Pastor’s Recovery from Cancer Surgery
Monday Meditations 2025-06-23
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!” (Psalm 111:10, NLT) Wisdom has been a goal for me anchored in the Biblical truth that wisdom's foundation is the fear of the Lord. Wisdom is looking ahead, the long game not the short game.…Read more Monday Meditations 2025-06-23
Finished Well!
The picture above is of one my good friends, Randy Stokes, and the best networker I have known. Wednesday evening, before our midweek service at Woodland Church, I called Randy. We talked about his sister's upcoming funeral on Friday of this week, his health, his family, his job, and future. Before we finished our call,…Read more Finished Well!
Reading the Bible this Year
The rewards of reading the Bible in community is growing in our knowledge of God together. Throughout the year, we will discover promises, prophecies, peace, and direction together. Individually we will grow, but we will also grow as brothers, sisters, and friends. Remember that God calls us together into a kingdom. Let me invite you…Read more Reading the Bible this Year
Happy Sabbath #2
It is a pleasant surprise for a pastor when a Sunday morning message strikes a chord with so many. The message Sunday about Sabbath Rest has sparked conversations every day this week. A common summary of the comments reveals that most of us have not seen Sabbath as the grace gift that it is. There…Read more Happy Sabbath #2