The Teenagers are coming...
22 years ago I started my life of vocational ministry as a youth pastor in Guam. As I went to that assignment I believed it would be an easy one as I got to eat pizza, play games and tell teens about Jesus. It was harder than I thought...
Members only?
🏕️ A summer camping trip taught me a crucial lesson about church.
When a community has "members" who've invested heavily and "non-members" who just pay to play... tension is inevitable.
Does this dynamic ever creep into our church family?
In my new blog post, I'm exploring the difference between an exclusive club and a church on a mission. Let's make sure we're on the right track together.
Read "Members, Guests, and the Mission" on the blog now! #Church #Mission #Community
Rest from Work. Work from Rest.
During the summer, many of us adjust our schedules to include more rest, fostering the restoration of mind, body, and soul. This healthy rhythm allows for varied work intensity throughout the year, often creating lasting family memories.
At our church we…
How many Churches are there?
The last time I checked there were about 24 congregations listed in the local newspaper. If you were to search for "church" in Edmonton, you'd find hundreds!
Every so often I need the reminder that God only sees 1 Church. While there are many expressions and opinions and nuances emphasized in various congregations, God only has 1 church. The Body of Christ...those who believe in and follow the ways of Jesus. …
Building Brotherhood over Bacon…
In today’s fast-paced world, many men find themselves isolated—emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Between work responsibilities, family commitments, and the pressure to succeed, it’s easy for meaningful connections to fall by the wayside…
Dedication, Christening, Infant Baptism...
Children are worth celebrating! There can come a time when parents want to do something special to acknowledge the spiritual life of the child, the connection with God and the church. There are different approaches to this important event in the life of a family. Some churches have “christenings” or “baptism of infants”. In most cases, this is the church’s way of making sure that the child is “safe” in case he or she should die before reaching the “age of accountability”. It comes close to implying that baptism = salvation. …
Spiritual Gifts…what’s yours?
This past Sunday I preached on Spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians 12. It’s a passage of scripture worth your read again. The simple summary is that Spiritual Gifts:
Short Term Missions - Part 3
Last week‘s post talked about the value of relationships that are built through short-term mission trips. As I’m wrapping up my journey, the value of relationships has been reinforced in my current experience, and I would like to expand on it by highlighting several relationships that are affected by such an experience.
Short Term Missions - Part 2
My ideas about short-term mission trips were developed further when I went to Uganda in 2000. I did a 13-week internship with Tim and Colleen Stevenson as one of the requirements for my Bachelor of Theology degree from Gardner College.
Short Term Missions - Part 1
I have been fortunate to know and call friends, several career overseas missionaries. These are individuals and couples who felt the call of God to ministry in cross-cultural contexts in countries where they did not spend their childhood.
Spiritual Conversations
Sometimes it can feel intimidating for Christians to think about doing "Evangelism." The very word may bring a flood of varied images to one's mind, with many not being positive. But what if it didn't have to be like that?
Believers or Disciples
If a “believer” is only someone who gives mental assent to the existence of Jesus, then there’s a difference between “believers” and disciples of Jesus.
However, if we accept the biblical understanding of “believer” as “someone who puts their trust/faith in” Jesus, then there’s not such a contrast. Becoming a Believer is more like the first step on the path of discipleship.
Back to Basics
When I have the privilege of leading someone to a relationship with Jesus, it is so exciting! As I share with them, it also reminds me of some of the basic truths about being Jesus' follower that I can forget in my day-to-day life.
What Grace…
A friend in the Air Force once told me that their unofficial slogan was “Work Smarter, Not Harder.” Many of us have heard this pithy advice at some point and been delighted by the discovery of an easier way to do things that accomplishes the same results.
The Christmas Spirit…
The UPcycle (used) Toy Drive was a fantastic success this year. We had great engagement with donations from our Wetaskiwin community and in addition to a great turnout from our congregation, we had some new volunteers from beyond our church family who came to help because they loved the idea of the project.
More than political…
Some words create division and cause confusion easily.
Here’s two: liberal & conservative.
Rarely do two people mean the same thing when they use these words. …
Watch out for the Umpires!
That’s the gist of what we talked about on Sunday as we explored Colossians 2:16-23. In both verses 16 and 18 we find the warnings, “do not let anyone judge you… and do not let anyone…disqualify you.” The congregation in Colossae had some people who had appointed themselves arbiters of Christian faith and practice.
What is God’s Will for me?
Does God have a particular course of action in mind for me or do I cooperate with God to create possibilities?