Hello, Image I came across the wackiest Scripture this week. Ezekiel isn't the easiest book of the Bible, pretty doom and gloom sometimes. And in chapter 9, it says that in a vision, Ezekiel hears God tell an angel to go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and mark the foreheads of all the people in [...]
Hello, Image On Monday evening, a few of us went to a worship night and prayer gathering here in downtown called Urban Hymnal. It was on a Monday night. Folks had to pay $10 for parking. And there were over 200 young people from all over the city gathered to worship. There were no chairs, [...]
Hello, Please join me in lifting a prayer for Iglesia Generaciones, which begins its weekly worship services at our West Campus this Sunday. Image Yesterday morning I was thinking about that verse from Psalm 23, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4b). The rod was used for protection, it was a weapon [...]
On Monday, I attended an event for area clergy at the Holocaust Museum. We were talking about the voices for human rights in our city, and the challenges of civil discourse in the age of social media. The new executive director spoke of Abraham, recognized as the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and shared [...]
I'm loving getting to meet with people and hear the longings people have for our church. One of the things people have asked repeatedly is about the possibility of using the word "United" in our church logo and digital media again. We had a fruitful conversation about that at our Administrative Board meeting this past [...]
Organizational health experts talk about something called "change fatigue". A person, or an organization, endures so much change over a period of time that they kind of reach their upper limit, and after that, every change, even good ones, feel like too much. I try to be aware of when I'm feeling change fatigue. Sometimes, [...]
This morning in my devotional reading, I came across an intriguing verse. The author of Colossians writes, “I work hard and struggle for this goal with his energy, which works in me powerfully.” (Colossians 1:29) Summoning up bursts of energy day after day like the Energizer Bunny, trying to keep all the plates spinning, gets [...]
Hello Church Family Over a decade ago a trusted mentor was asked about church growth, and in response he shared George Hunter’s, known as Dean and Distinguished Professor at Asbury Seminary, wisdom who often asked these questions: Do you believe in what you say you believe? Do your actions reflect you believe what you say [...]
Grace and peace to you! This is one of my favorite greetings that Paul uses throughout many of his letters. As you read this today, I pray that you are filled with God’s Grace and Peace. Grace and peace show up in different ways for each of us. This week I have been able to [...]
Hello Church Family! In my personal devotional time right now, I'm reading through the story of Moses. I got to the plague of the frogs invading Egypt, and Pharoah tells Moses that if he'll get rid of the frogs, he'll let the people go. Moses says, "Have it your way. When should I pray for [...]
