I have grown to love Gungor. They are a very musically gifted band led by Michael and Lisa Gungor. I love the creativity and intentional quality that they add in a world where so much music is shallow and lacking depth. Many contemporary songs are musically written as just shells to carry forward some lyrics.…
My title was once “missionary”. That title meant that I was an individual that was fully employed in the cause of taking the good news of the gospel to those who did not know the good news of the gospel. Most people when they hear the word missionary assume some international context. From childhood, I…
Despite what many assume, I did not name Leah after a princess from a well known science fiction movie that came out in 1978, even though her brother’s name is Luke. She is named straight up for the Biblical character introduced in Genesis 29. And I feel like I need to clarify that we didn’t…
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…
As some of you may have heard, a few men from ReCAST went camping last weekend. I’ll give you a minute to put two and two together. Yes, “polar vortex” last weekend. Yes, camping, like thin nylon tents and sleeping-bags camping. When sharing about this now annual adventure of ours, I’ve heard responses that usually…
In honor of pastor appreciation month, I want to say how I appreciate the one and only, Donald Filcek. Seriously, I do. Don is an incredibly smart individual with a sincere passion for Christ and a driving desire to build a gospel-centered, people-loving church in our community. He’s a guy who loves his wife, cherishes…
I’m not an animal lover. I like the idea of a dog, I guess––having a trusty companion who always accepts you, waiting for you at the door when you get home with wagging tail. Car commercials with a man and his best friend packing up the camping gear on a mountain top at sunset looks…
I’m blogging from my iPhone, in the dark, in my Big Agnes Wolf Mountain 6 person tent with sleeping wife and three half snoring kiddos by my side. Our tent is expertly pitched on site 224 in Brimley State Park campground with Lake Superior waves quietly falling to shore 40 yards north of where I…
I love big cities! There is something about the hustle and bustle of city life that energizes me. I attended a conference for Pastors in Chicago this past week, and if I am honest, I was more excited about being in Chicago than I was about attending the conference. But God met me on His…
Certainly the Supreme Courts consideration of the same sex marriage ruling has grabbed some attention in the media (and by media I mean social media). We are certainly a culture of moral diversity, ubiquity of self-expression, and a lot of red equal signs. Despite the reality, that any blog on this topic will likely not…
Today is my 40th birthday. I fielded a few jokes today but in reality I have had a little time to reflect on how quickly forty years has flown by! Scriptures refer to life as a mist that burns off when the sun rises or is blown away by the wind. It is a fragile…
At the end of every year I am making it tradition to share my reading list from the previous year and give a brief summary. This year I have read more fiction than ever in my life and I think that has been impacted by my use of the Kindle app on my iPad. For…