I attended a pastor’s conference in Chicago recently and one of the most beneficial take-aways, came from a breakout session that had about 20-30 in attendance. The topic was “debunking the myths about marriage and divorce” and since divorce and remarriage are something I have been specifically studying, it grabbed my attention. I have often…
I am convinced that one of the major things missing from our modern Christianity is a healthy awe and reverent fear of the God of the universe. Now let me state clearly, that I believe that God is full of grace and kindness toward his people and that we need not fear His wrath and…
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. But depending on when you are reading this, it may already be too late. Nothing brings out my non-traditional side quite like these “Hallmark Holidays”. I confess that I always wrestle with what to do as a pastor on days like these. I believe that motherhood is an amazing and…
I am in awe of all the work that gets done each week at ReCAST church! We have a crew that sets up and tears down the entire stage, seating, and children’s classrooms! We have a crew that comes in early to make coffee and set out the donuts and juice. We have teachers and…
How smart do we need to be in order to understand the Bible? I ask this question because I am beginning to see a pattern of Biblical interpretation that is nothing new, but is being applied all of a sudden in many cultural contexts. From the egalitarian debate to the gay Christian debate, many are…
Last week I attended a conference called Together for the Gospel (T4G) in Louisville, Kentucky. This has become a biennial elders’ retreat of sorts and has become a great encouragement to my soul. I am so grateful for volunteer lay elders who take their role in the church seriously enough to take time off work…
Linda and I just returned late on Tuesday night from a seven night stay at an all inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. I had saved up money to take Linda there for her birthday. (35th or something like that . . .) We were both very ready for a vacation from…
Last week I was out at a week long conference called The Journey. It is a program run by Open Hearts Ministry in Kalamazoo, Michigan and it is a counseling training/ group experience that started as help for those who have gone through abuse, and it has been opened up to all who want to…
Nikki (my amazing wife) is away for the week. She had the opportunity to attend The Journey in Muskegon. I had the privilege of attending the week long retreat last year and had a powerful experience so I’m happy that she could go. But of course, if she’s gone for a week, that leaves me…
Every season brings a certain amount of joy to me. I enjoy all four and that makes Michigan a great home for me. I talk with many people who complain about winter and I wonder to myself why anyone would live in Michigan that hates the winter. But I also have identified a selfish streak…
A few of the counseling relationships I’m privileged to be a part of here at ReCAST have come about due to the challenges of sin. Typically, a crisis drives these individuals to seek pastoral counsel and part of working with them involves confronting the dysfunctional or devious behavior that caused or helped cause the crisis.…
I like the light. I associate walking in the darkness with stepping on Legos with my bare feet and ramming my shin into the end table. The disciple John writes in 1 John 1 about walking in the darkness and walking in the light. And, in context, walking in the light is not merely doing…
