A new year. It’s a time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. New starts are always refreshing, aren’t they? I think that’s why God built new starts throughout the rhythms of our life. Every minute, every hour, every week, every month, every year begins again at some point. Was last year a disaster? Guess what...you can start fresh! Was last year awesome? Then go for a repeat! That’s why I love January. It’s a chance to look ahead and chart a course and plan for the year to the best of my ability.

I remember my parents doing this when I was a kid, and now that I’m married, my wife and I have done it most every year. We usually do it in January, as that’s the time we plan out the whole year, but it can be done at any time. Trust me, setting aside time to seek God in your relationship will transform your life, your marriage, and your kids. Here’s a few tips for how to have a successful Vision Weekend. 

You can’t start forward until you stop to look back. Use your calendar, iPhoto, pictures, journal, FB...just take some time to walk back through the year. You’ll be blown away at the things that happened that you forgot. 365 days is a long time...and a lot of grace.

Think about this: The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator of all things, the eternal Son of God came to earth as a baby. Was He welcomed with a parade of extravagance? Was He celebrated by society?

Things have gone terribly wrong. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way, was it?? Where is God?? Does He see? Does He care? Why doesn’t He act? Is there a way out? Will things ever change?

Christmas. There’s no other time like it. The lights, the music, the snow, the food, the carols, the presents. For some, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” For others, it’s not the “most hap, happiest season of all.“ And yet, our broken world so desperately wants those songs to be true.

If you're like me, today feels a little surreal...like, we all woke up in one reality but will go to bed in another. And it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of fact. So we wake up and watch, and wait. Really, it's an extraordinary experience. 

The History Channel has been running a hit series, now in its seventh season, called Alone. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to watch at least one episode just to witness a fascinating human experiment on the mental and emotional breakdown that happens when people are, you guessed it… alone. Sounding eerily familiar? Sounds like the past 7 months of COVID.

When Paul says that you have been raised with Christ, he is using the pinnacle of salvation truth to imply everything that has led up to the reality of new life in Christ. This would include: God’s choice to save you before you knew Him (election)...

If you haven’t noticed, things are getting canceled today. From T.V. shows to maple syrup, it’s a very trendy thing to do. They call it, “Cancel Culture.” This movement aims to boycott or “cancel” anything that, to them—by their standards— appears unfair, racist, misogynistic, or demeaning. Practically, it’s social shaming based upon a perceived social aggression...

I started listening to the great Johnny Cash in college after a friend, whose musical tastes I respected, made a passing comment about how “legit” Cash was as an artist. Of course I had heard of Johnny Cash, but other than a few songs, I had never really listened to his music. I figured I would give him an honest try...

I started listening to the great Johnny Cash in college after a friend, whose musical tastes I respected, made a passing comment about how “legit” Cash was as an artist. Of course I had heard of Johnny Cash, but other than a few songs, I had never really listened to his music. I figured I would give him an honest try...

Paul is a straight shooter. I love that about him. Sorta. Want to shine like a star in the midst of a warped and crooked generation?Don’t grumble, argue or complain. Ever. Do that, Church-Planter-Pastor-Apostle Paul says, and his laboring for our joy and progress in the faith was not in vain. No pressure! But if we complain and grumble and argue, Paul wasted his time. Yikes! Sting a little?

Do you remember the scene in the first Star Wars film, A New Hope (technically episode 4 for all the Force Fanatics among us), where Obi-Wan Kenobi is fighting Darth Vader? It’s actually the first lightsaber duel in Star Wars franchise history. There’s this great moment in the fight where Obi-Wan, in true Jedi form, drops an epic line...

Paul lived in a time very much like ours. There was great turmoil, riots, social unrest, and struggles for political power. There was reason to be discouraged. There was reason to be overwhelmed by the evil that seemed to prevail. There was reason to want to give up. But Paul's final words aren't filled with hopelessness.