When You Face a Crisis

A friend told me about ten years ago, while we were talking about our health, “Nothing good happens after 60.” Since then, he and I have both had our share of challenges. As I have grown older, life has become more serious, and, strangely enough, more joyful at the same time. I will be the…Read more When You Face a Crisis

Heartfelt Impressions: A Journey of Faith and Healing

This week while I was in the hospital, I felt impressed to ask one of my doctors if I could pray for them. They left the room for a few minutes and I prayed about this thought. "Lord, am I supposed to ask them this?" There was a sense of peace about this. When asked,…Read more Heartfelt Impressions: A Journey of Faith and Healing

Grace and Pain brings Opportunities

Psalm 30:2 — “O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.” Last Friday morning, I awoke at 2:15 a.m. in intense pain and overwhelming nausea. I quietly slipped downstairs so I wouldn’t wake my family. For the next several hours, the pain would not ease, nor would the…Read more Grace and Pain brings Opportunities

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!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 Fearfully and wonderfully made. Those words should leave us in awe. Awe is that deep, humbling awareness that we are standing before something far greater than ourselves—something so wondrous it quiets us, and so…Read more Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

God Holds Us in the Storm: A Pastor’s Recovery from Cancer

I’m writing from my hospital bed at the University of Michigan Hospital as the storm winds whips snow outside at 24 mph. Soon, children will be sledding and laughing in the snow. Life keeps moving—even in the midst of uncertainty. Thank you for praying for me. The ileostomy closure was successful. While the surgeon was…Read more God Holds Us in the Storm: A Pastor’s Recovery from Cancer

God is Committed to Making You Like Jesus part one

Alive to Wonder

On a cold, and unusually clear night in the suburbs, Becky and I gazed in the night sky at distant planets and constellations. The app on our phone helped us identify stars and planets with some information about each. Learning only increased our wonder at the heavenly display of God’s glory. Our children were constantly…Read more Alive to Wonder

Living For the Glory of God

"Resolved: that all men should live for the glory of God. Resolved second: That whether others do or not, I will" Jonathan Edwards "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 "The glory of God is man fully alive." Irenaeus These statements motivate…Read more Living For the Glory of God

“We are like Jesus.” May that be true of us!

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” (1 John 4:17, NIV) I love that phrase "we are like Jesus" as love is made complete among us. We become more loving by spending time daily worshiping…Read more “We are like Jesus.” May that be true of us!