Encouragement to help you through the week.
Beloved, In last week’s evening sermon I emphasized Jesus’s command to go when we humbly confront a brother or sister about their sin (Matt. 18:15). Jesus assumed that before we can tell someone their fault, we first need to physically go to…
Beloved, Addressing a similar theme from last week’s email, I thought I would share an excerpt from the final chapter of Sacred Streaming? that I wrote this past week. Be aware these words are a part of a much larger argument developed in…
Beloved, This past week I started wading through Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Haidt may be an atheist and an evolutionist, but his book packs a punch that…
Beloved, I love a good sweat. Of course, not all sweat is created equal. For example, today I was sitting outside at Niedlov’s waiting to meet someone for lunch and sweat began to drip down my arms thanks to the Tennessee…
Beloved, On Monday I took Vos for an eye exam at the recommendation of his pediatrician. The optometrist projected pictures of different shapes and sizes on the wall for Vos to identify. With both eyes open, he passed with flying…
Beloved, This morning in private worship, I read this words from John Piper about public worship: “The authenticating, inner essence of worship is being satisfied with Christ, prizing Christ, cherishing Christ, treasuring Christ. This is tremendously relevant for understanding what…
Beloved, On Monday the EPA broke ground on the church property. Praise the Lord who rules over the hearts of government workers, and has led them to finally show up to deliver us from our lead-toxic soil! But I think…
Beloved, This past Sunday I mentioned Christ’s petition that His disciples reflect the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit (Jn. 17:21-23). In my morning devotions I’ve been studying the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and this morning…
Beloved, Sorry for my delay in sending this! The high winds caused some power lines to fall on the ridge and our power has been out since Thursday (until roughly 3:30 this morning!). Christ has been ministering to us through…
Beloved, On Monday Tessa and I did a deep clean of our unfinished basement, preparing a corner to be my study during the soil remediation of the church’s property. In God’s kindness, the standup desk I ordered arrived on Monday…
Beloved, I’m almost certain I have never had an original thought in my life. Countless individuals and movements have shaped the way I think, speak, and live. But few living theologians have shaped my understanding of the Scriptures and the…
Beloved, We are swiftly nearing the conclusion of Daniel, and what a journey it has been. There have been times when I have wondered if we would make it out alive, and there is still the very real possibility that…