I've been thinking about Christian maturity (and traits of immaturity) lately, so I came up with this unscientific list of traits of growing Christians. These folks (hopefully they're us!) are safe, developmental, compassionate, and connected to their savior. Looking...
Latest on the Blog
Big does not (always) mean blessing
Big numbers are proof that a ministry is "good" and beyond reproach, right? Doesn't that success mean God is blessing that entity? If a ministry is growing and bringing people in the front door, those numbers prove God is at work, so the reasoning goes that anyone who...
When you overshare for attention
I've been thinking about how I'm made, how God has uniquely gifted me. I am a discloser by nature, and I thank God for that odd gift because He has used it to bring healing my way. Right after high school, I went on "Beyond Malibu," a weeklong hiking trip in the...
The Grief of Church Hurt
“Great is the art of the beginning, but greater is the art of ending. "—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow You may or may not know, but we are walking through a season of transition as we've left our church of 23 years and are looking for a new church home. All that to say,...
A good Father doesn’t give us what we demand, thankfully
I am seeing more that God is so very good. He is personal. He takes note of our vulnerabilities and loves us anyway. He is a good father. But just because he is a good father doesn't mean everything will turn out the way we want it to. He sees multi-dimensionally,...
The Problem with Christian Celebrity Culture
Christian celebrity culture is unreal, unhealthy, and unholy. It deceives. Celebrities move from believing the reality of their own sinful desires to deceiving themselves to believe they’re invincible, powerful, and without fault. It ingratiates. When someone becomes...
Out of the Nest into the Next
We are praying, seeking, and getting counsel. We’ve experienced a cataclysmic shift in the past few months, and we wonder what God is up to. Would you pray for us? Pray that we would honor him in our decisions. Pray that we would be quiet enough to listen. Pray that...
Merch Church: Should that be a thing?
Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money, but many churches today suffer from “affluenza.” Whether it be treating celebrities well in special seats or currying favor with wealthy congregants, some churches violate James 2:2-4. “For example, suppose someone comes...
When I Set Down Lent Painting
You may have noticed a lapse in painting videos recently. This is the explanation. Sometimes you have to say no, especially when something becomes a have to rather than a want to. I have loved painting for Lent, but this year is different. It became more chore than...
I have False Refuges
So much I’m learning in this season. My anxiety has quadrupled, it seems. I’m learning how I have chased after false refuges. Finances: when all is well, they bring peace. When they’re in flux, my stomach roils. Home: it’s typically been my place of peace and retreat,...
Jesus Doesn’t Need our Sparkle
This morning I read from @ct_mag : "What the Asbury Revival Taught Me about Gen Z" by Kevin Brown. In it, he writes about the worship teams who participated. "Without being directed, they played from the side of the stage, outside the spotlight. This was consistent...
The Church is not a Corporation
Ever since we began our marriage planting a church, we have been studying and observing church. We have experienced so many amazing bodies of believers all over the world, from French speakers in Montreal, to a group of students in Vietnam, to the wealthy of Monaco to...