There are lots of things you learn as a parent of a toddler. The latest lesson at our house: whining. My mom used to quote the verse, “do all things without grumbling or complaining” all the time to us kids. Now I know why! But upon further reflection, I am ashamed to admit, my daughter […]
Substance over style
A couple times a week, I will pull up to my favorite coffee stand in the harbor and order myself an iced decaf latte. Iced, because I run warm. Decaf, because I’m naturally caffeinated. And a latte because I’m not a “real” coffee drinker…I just like my milk with ice and a couple shots of […]
The incredible impact of prayer
Prayer changes the atmosphere. I remember the first time a mentor couple told me that. And it has stuck with me ever since. It was evident to me that they really believed in and knew the power of prayer. They had seen time and time again how spending time in the Lord’s presence made an […]
How to finish well
Last week, I got to do something that I have never done before: I took a week off work entirely devoted to study. One of the requirements and, indeed, gifts of being a pastor in our denomination is to take time away from ministerial responsibilities to engage in ongoing learning. This meant doing something I […]
A life worth imitating
Fred Rogers, better known as Mister Rogers from the famed children’s TV show Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmys in 1997. In his recipient speech, he used his time in a way no one else had before. “All of us have special ones who have loved us into being,” he […]
Worshipping as consumers or contributors?
I know I’m a “young gun” (pun intended!). So, it might come as a surprise that this summer I’ll be celebrating my 10th year in vocational ministry. I am so grateful to God for his faithfulness over the last decade, during which time I have had the joy of leading worship in the local church […]
‘Tis the season!
Believe it or not, the holiday season is upon us! The radio stations are starting to change to Christmas tunes. The Christmas décor is available wherever decorations are sold. And now that we have finished stuffing ourselves with turkey and all the trimmings, the holiday season has officially begun! In light of this, we are […]
What God says about mental illness
What is mental health? Where does mental illness even come from? What are Christians supposed to do about it? If you’re a Christian living in the United States, you can’t help but ask these questions. Around 47 million Americans suffer from some kind of mental illness—that’s one out of every five people. These are real people who are struggling with real […]
The sermon starts in the parking lot
Believe it or not, Easter is just around the corner! While the average person may not think about Easter this early in the game (unless you’re quite the planner!), those of us who serve on staff at Chapel Hill have been planning for it for months—and there’s still much to do! “But,” you may be […]
Welcome to Christmas
Last weekend marked the official start to the Advent season! It’s so exciting to see all of the decorations around the church and to hear the sounds of Christmas songs in our services. This is a special Advent for Aimee and me as it is our first in Gig Harbor. Although we have been here […]