The Blog
A collection of my random thoughts on church, theology, art, and just other random things. There’s a little of everything here.
The Impact of VBS on Church Community
I’ll be honest—I used to be that pastor who rolled my eyes at VBS, convinced it was just glorified babysitting dressed up in Bible costumes. After spending years on the planning side of things, watching volunteers transform our worship center into a spaceship and witnessing high schoolers serve alongside grandparents, my perspective has completely shifted. It turns out that VBS isn’t just about teaching kids Bible stories for a week; it’s about showing them (and their parents) that they genuinely matter to our church community. When I watched our congregation of all ages come together to serve 80 kids for five nights straight, I realized VBS might just be the most powerful community-building program we have. Who knew that the ministry I once dismissed would become the very picture of multi-generational discipleship I’d been preaching about all along?
A Decade Together
Ten years ago, I made a commitment to Samantha—to love her, serve her, and stick by her through all life’s ups and downs. A decade later, I’ve learned that marriage is far less about keeping score and far more about embracing humility, servanthood, and a shared commitment to growth. From navigating life’s inevitable challenges to choosing happiness over being right, each lesson has shaped the bond we share. This milestone isn’t just about celebrating where we’ve been; it’s about looking forward to all the lessons and laughter that lie ahead. Here’s to ten years with my incredible wife—and to many more.
It’s Been Real, Harmony
Eight years ago, I joined Harmony Christian Church. Today, I leave an entirely different person. All things end. I’m grateful for all it all.
Review: Real-Life Discipleship
Real-Life Discipleship by Jim Putnam is a thought-provoking book that highlights the crucial need for an intentional process in creating disciples. Putnam effectively argues that attending church and participating in religious rituals alone are not sufficient for true discipleship. He emphasizes the importance of engaging the head, heart, and hands to reflect the teachings of Jesus. By outlining clear stages of discipleship that align with human development, Putnam provides a practical framework that can be implemented in any ministry environment. While he could have provided more guidance on adapting the strategy to individual churches, the book’s solid theological foundation and actionable insights make it an essential read for ministry leaders seeking to transform their congregations into vibrant communities of discipleship.
How to be a Disciple
Over the last nine posts in this series, we’ve explored what discipleship is and how it is done. Discipleship is a life long commitment to become more like Jesus. It’s intense, difficult, and sometimes exhausting, but it’s ultimately rewarding. You were created to be a disciple and to make disciples, so now go live it!
Disciples Make Other Disciples
A disciple hasn’t really completely made it until they make another disciples. The truth is that disciples reproduce. This is God’s plan for the world. Someone leads us into a relationship with Christ and pours into us so that we pour into others. This is also the most difficult step in discipleship. If making ourselves into disciples is hard, then making others is even harder.
The Role of Christian Higher Education
A key part of holistic discipleship is education. Learning and growing in the knowledge of Christ is very important. When most people think of christian education, their minds immediately go to institutions of higher education, such as seminary. What is the role of these institutions in discipleship, and how can the church partner with these institutions to further develop disciples?
Discipleship and the Local Church
God’s plan for the world is the local church. For most people, the majority of their discipleship journey will happen in the context of their local church. How does the church fit into the vision of discipleship and how can churches build disciples in their community?
Growing as a Disciple
You’ve made the decision to actually become a disciple, but how do you actually do that? Becoming a disciple is not a one time event. It’s a life long commitment to grow in Christ. Growing up is difficult, so how do we ensure that we grow?
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Other New Stuff
Latest Photography
Birds and Beasts at North Pointe
North Pointe has many feathery visitors during the week. Sometimes they stop and pose for a photo.
Latest Sermon
Check the Receipts
Do you really know who Jesus is? Jesus tells us who he is through the miracles he did. People respond differently to the miracles that Jesus performed, and we can find these same responses in ourselves. Are you carried along in your faith like the paralytic through the roof, using Jesus like the nine lepers, or do you really and truly see Jesus as your Lord? It’s time to meet Jesus, because once you truly meet Jesus, He will change your life.