I recently read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. The last chapter is so funny as the children assemble for what will be a memorable Christmas performance. Little Gladys has been cast as the angel Gabriel, and she is excited to speak her lines. Here came Gladys, “from...
When I was in junior and senior high school, I spent a great deal of effort trying to prove the Christian faith to unbelieving friends of mine. I would refer to books like Josh McDowell’s Evidence that Demands a Verdict and Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ. I never had much success...
Thanksgiving has come and passed. And with Thanksgiving comes Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. I write this article to you on Giving Tuesday. What is giving Tuesday? It’s a time where people are starting to recognize that so much of the last week has been about finding the best deals...
I returned from my CREDO (rhymes with “play-doh”) conference with my cup overflowing. This conference, put on by our denomination, was the best one I’ve ever attended. CREDO aimed at encouraging pastors to be healthy in all areas of their life. We heard lectures on physical...
A highlight of autumn comes every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Men from our church start cooking as early as 4am. The church kitchen is abuzz with activity while delicious aromas fill the church building. After second service, our church gathers together in the Christian Life Center...
This last weekend, I became a true Iowan. I had the privilege of attending my first Iowa football game. It was a beautiful day for a game. Too bad the score wasn’t beautiful. Iowa just couldn’t get into the end no matter how hard they tried. And once they did, the refs didn’t...
Throughout this fall, many of the pastors in our Presbytery have been reading a book called Resident Aliens, by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon. The Macedonian Ministry cohorts within our Presbytery represent roughly 25 pastors who gather monthly for study, prayer, worship, and sharing a...
I’ve always been a fan of the Manning family. From when Archie played football at Ole Miss while my dad and uncles were there, to Peyton and the Colts and Eli with the Giants, my family has always rooted for their team. (Except, of course, when the Giants play the Eagles. Then I can't root...
While many were watching the first Presidential debate last night, I was returning home from a visit to First Presbyterian Church, Lakota. While there, Dave Feltman and I represented the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, discussing creative ways to function as the church in the years...
For those who missed our congregational meeting this last Sunday, we are excited to announce the launch the Psalm 98 campaign! Psalm 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth.” Through this campaign we seek to do just that...
