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
Relationships
Goal Planning After Cancer: Grateful, Surprised, and Still Growing
This week I’ve been working on my annual goals. When I received my cancer diagnosis in June, I assumed it would derail everything I had planned for this year—and in many ways, it did. Over half of our plans changed or had to be set aside altogether. But as I worked through my annual review,…Read more Goal Planning After Cancer: Grateful, Surprised, and Still Growing
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
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!
A Baby Means Life Should Go On
"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on." Carl Sandberg I have never seen an ugly baby! And I have seen, held, and dedicated a lot of babies. A comedian once said all the babies he had seen were ugly and he wondered how people could love them. We were laughing while he…Read more A Baby Means Life Should Go On
Coram Deo 