"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV Apologetics, like any other Christian activity, must be undertaken first as…Read more Apologetics as an Act of Love
iBelieve in the Holy Spirit #2
[Jesus] "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11 When I was younger I was totally fascinated by the concept of the Holy Spirit as fire. Fire was power. Fire would overcome the powers of darkness. Power! I would pray for it. We would sing about with it, "O Lord send the…Read more iBelieve in the Holy Spirit #2
iBelieve in the Holy Spirit
My message Sunday was "iBelieve in Jesus." I believe in Him and I love him. My love is imperfect but, oh I love Him. For all that I could ever hope to say about Jesus, I've come to know through the loving work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also helps us to know…Read more iBelieve in the Holy Spirit
A. W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit
Spell this out in capital letters: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is not courage. He is not energy. He is not the personification of all good qualities, like Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. Actually, the Holy Spirit is not the personification of anything. He is a…Read more A. W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit
Meet Pastor Mark Warda part 4
I asked Pastor Mark to share about leadership and leisure. Photography is one of his hobbies. He took the ones to the left. Isn't that cool? DEC: Mark, what is the time management advice you've been given that has been most helpful? MW: Ordering priorities. My tendency is to do the lesser important things because they…Read more Meet Pastor Mark Warda part 4
Meet Pastor Mark Warda part 3
I asked about the musical influences in Pastor Mark's life. DEC: If you could study under any historical musical figure, who would that be? (His face lit up. This was the best part of our conversation.) MW: Bach and Handel are two of my favorite composers, from my favorite era, the Baroque Era. Bach in…Read more Meet Pastor Mark Warda part 3
Meet Pastor Mark Warda part two
When you are speaking with Pastor Mark, you quickly realize that he is well read, remembers details and can apply what he has learned to life. I asked him about his reading disciplines. DEC: Mark, tell me about your devotions. MW: I get up at 7:30 and spend about 45 minutes in prayer and Bible…Read more Meet Pastor Mark Warda part two
Meet Pastor Mark Warda
Meet Pastor Mark Warda, the Creative Arts Pastor at Woodland Church. Mark leads a highly creative team of musicans, vocalists, artists, actors and a technical team. His leadership is evident in their lives by the mentoring they do with young artists in our congregation. The passion and authenticity that his team brings to worship is…Read more Meet Pastor Mark Warda
Memorial Day 2010
A few years ago while visiting Normandy and the historical sites of D-Day, I met an elderly Ranger leaving a small handmade cross with the words "From one who has grown old to my friends who did not." He was weeping sadly. I stood by hoping he would acknowledge me. When he did I thanked…Read more Memorial Day 2010
Cleaning up a Mess
Last night at dinner one of our children knocked over their soda and it went everywhere. Becky and I immediately sprang into action. Three children (young adults) sat there laughing. We stopped and let them clean it up. We all kept laughing, but it was nice to watch them clean up the mess. As well as…Read more Cleaning up a Mess
Coram Deo 