Vision

A Brief Reflection on Retirement, Love, and Letting Go

I recently “retired” as the pastor of the most loving and wonderful church family. Woodland Church has been our family’s church home for 27 years and will continue to be our church family. This has been a joyful—and emotionally difficult—decision. One of my friends encouraged me to ignore the sadness I am experiencing and not…Read more A Brief Reflection on Retirement, Love, and Letting Go

31 Hours ‘Til

Christmas Eve 2025 As I write these words, there are 31 hours left until a new year begins—and 31 final hours for me to serve as pastor of Woodland Church. I pause in this moment with a grateful heart. Scripture tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to…Read more 31 Hours ‘Til

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

Mistakes, I have made more than a few!

When Jesus taught us to pray by addressing God as Father, he revealed to us what God is really like. Reading the Bible, there is a clear message that God is our Father. “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are;…Read more Mistakes, I have made more than a few!

God Gives Us a Trust

“If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” (Luke 16:11, NLT)  Here is something to think about. God has entrusted to you a certain amount of wealth to manage for His glory. It encourages me to know that God trusts, encourages, and instructs us on how…Read more God Gives Us a Trust

Preparation is Important

They are young, beautiful, smart, committed and very talented. With a committee, I'm listening intently to their story about the last three years. They live in a somewhat closed country, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a Zoom call but you see and hear their joy, passion and pain as we ask questions…Read more Preparation is Important

Advent Hope and a Winter Wish

Our sons and their families are coming home for Christmas. We have grandsons hoping for a snowy Christmas to go sledding, build a snowman, and throw snowballs! One of them hopes that Papa and Gramma will give him a puppy for Christmas. Their hopes are wishes. It's how the word is used today. Wishes that…Read more Advent Hope and a Winter Wish

Dreaming 25 years in Our Future

I dream about twenty years from now. In my dream I still rise early to have coffee with the Lord. My wife wakes up and I bring her coffee and toast in bed. We enjoy talking with one another watching the sunrise. (Remember this a dream." By the way she is drinking light roast coffee…Read more Dreaming 25 years in Our Future

Making Dreams Come True

I pray that the first two months of 2021 have been as productive and prosperous as people were hoping when 2020 was finally history. I found myself singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness” this morning. The phrase “morning by morning new mercies I see” filled my soul with music. Lamentations 3:23 tell us they are new…Read more Making Dreams Come True

Visionary Goals

Prayerfully Write Visionary Life Goals “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15–16, AMP Life goals are how I talk about…Read more Visionary Goals