Rituals.

I have played baseball and other sports for as long as I can remember. One of the greatest and most foundational religious beliefs in sports is superstition and ritual. I would always put on my right cleat first, then my left. I would warm up the same way before each practice and game. I had the same ritual when I stepped up to home plate. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

Humans are creatures of habit. We like routines. They give us stability and consistency. They provide us comfort in a world that feels so chaotic. We experience and practice these in all areas of life, but I had a moment at church where I knew I needed to break one of the common rituals.

Our church was practicing communion that day. I grabbed the little personal cup of purple juice with a small white circle of bread sealed at the top. I found myself grabbing the communion elements out of habit, as I had many times before. Our worship team began to lead us through song, and I knew I wouldn’t be partaking in communion.

As I sat there looking at the elements, my spirit became more unsettled. I remembered something one of my college professors had said; something I hadn’t thought about in years. I remember him passionately talking about the seriousness and weight of communion, and how it should not be taken lightly.

And I couldn’t, not that day. I was carrying around frustration and bitterness that I felt I deserved to hold onto. I wasn’t ready to approach the “table” and join in with my brothers and sisters.

I began reflecting on just how ritualistic this has become. Communion wasn’t given to us to practice as a rote ritual, but something deeply meaningful and spiritual. It wasn’t meant to be casual, but it carried real weight. It wasn’t about earning it, but actually meaning it. It was to remind us of eternity, and of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It wasn’t supposed to be just something we did, but a reminder of how to live.

So I set it down.

I wasn’t making a statement. I wasn’t taking a stand. In all honesty, I just wasn’t ready. I needed time to process, take a breath, and begin to release. I didn’t want to just go through the motions because everyone else is doing it.

But I believe many of us have forgotten the intense meaning and purpose of communion. We have simplified it to a little cup and a piece of bread at your seat, with the same verses and micro-sermons repackaged. Emotion and reflection seem to have left the room.

Communion is meant to be intimate and communal. People gathered to offer support and community, knowing that Jesus’s sacrifice saved not just them but everyone who gathered. But now, it’s become siloed to a single seat in an auditorium, vanilla instructions, and an add-on to a church service. It’s the proverbial cherry on top.

I don’t share this to eradicate the practice of communion or to cast judgment towards others. But I share this because I believe it’s okay for us to pause and reflect, to examine our hearts, and choose authenticity over expectation. Not just to perform a ritual because that’s what we are supposed to do.

The cup sat below my chair for the rest of the service, untouched and unopened. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but I did. And when I left the church that day, I didn’t feel like I failed a ritual, but that I finally paid attention to one.

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Before we dive into this well-known story, let’s set the stage a bit. Jesus is found at the pools of Bethesda in Jerusalem, where many sick and wounded people gathered. These pools were believed to have special water that would bring healing when an angel stirred the water. If you were the first to get in, you would be healed.

There was a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, and with this system, he had almost no hope. He had no one to help him get into the water in time. But today his life was about to change when Jesus arrived. All these years, he has been calling out, trying to survive the day, but now Jesus enters the scene, and he is about to have a completely different life.

So Jesus sees and then he asks this question:

“Would you like to get well?”

Pause for a moment and sit in that. After all those years sitting by the pool day after day, watching others walk away healed, while he remains stuck and helpless. Then the audacity of Jesus to look at this man to ask: “Would you like to get well?”

I can almost hear the pain and resignation of 38 years in this man’s voice, “I can’t, sir, for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me” (John 5:7).

Who knows how many people this man saw get into the water and walk away healed? Each time, just reminding the man of the pain and hopelessness of his situation.

This man was seeking healing from the pools while the Great Physician stood before him. It makes me think how many times, in my own life, I have sought after superstitions, my own strength, or something else to experience healing that only God can provide.

When Jesus heals this man, his entire life is changed. For 38 years, his income came from begging and charity. For 38 years, his identity was tied to the mat. For 38 years, he had become known for his inability.

But God (which are some of the best words in human history) changed all of this in an instant. 38 years of pain and suffering were about to be wiped away, beginning with a question. His mat would become useless, and his whole life would change.

The crazy part that Theo Von brought up in his clip, and I have been pondering, was what happens to the man after this moment. What does this healing actually do for this man? For 38 years, his life had been drowned in monotony and suffering, but now everything was different. What would he do every day now that he doesn’t have to beg? How will he make money for food? Where will he live? Who will he hang out with now that he isn’t stuck at the pools?

His story had changed. His life was now different, and when we experience the power and healing of God, we, too, are different.

The Fear of “Different”

The problem is that many of us fear the different. We have become accustomed to this normal, even if it’s painful. Many of us are seeking to be healed from loneliness, addiction, anxiety, unhealthy relationships, bitterness, and more, but we hesitate because we know real healing will make our lives different, and we aren’t sure how that will look.

The unknown seems scarier than the familiar suffering.

My worry is that many of us would rather stay unchanged and unhealed because we fear how our lives would be different. We may have to give up friendships, change jobs, stop drinking, give away possessions, or fill in the blank.

So Jesus’ question hangs in the air still - Do you want to be healed?

Not just temporary relief. Not a momentary distraction or redirection. But true healing that will change your life forever.

We may not be beggars at the pools of Bethesda. We may not be limited to a mat. We may not have to beg every day for money to have something to eat or drink. But if we are honest, we are all struggling in some way.

I’ve been asking myself some tough questions, and I know I will return to these questions often:

Do I want to be healed or just rescued from my consequences?

Do I want to be healed or just make my life a little easier?

Do I want to be healed or just feel less guilty?

In the Scriptures, there is no record that the lame man hesitated or asked any next-step questions after his healing. He immediately stood up, picked up his mat, and walked. He didn’t negotiate what this different life would bring. He obeyed and stepped into the unknown, trusting the One who healed him.

What makes my heart heavy is for those (including myself at times) who remain stuck because the fear of becoming “different” overpowers faith in the Healer.

Friends, will you pray for me in the areas where I still cling to my mat? And if you find yourself here in ways, I would be honored to pray for you as well.

I want to be healed, and I believe you do too. I want to experience the “different” because I know God is with me through it all, and He is with you, too.

So, do you want to be healed? Are you ready to embrace the different? If so, stand up, pick up your mat, and walk.

Let God continue to make you different and more like Jesus every day.

In many ways, our son’s birth feels like a whole new world. In the pandemic, visitors weren’t allowed, and you were kept in your hospital room unless it was necessary. It felt as if having a child was more of a burden than a blessing.

But as I lay prone on this squeaky, leathery “bed” in the hospital room, I glanced over and saw the reclining chair. My son’s blanket draped over an arm, and the light from the machines reflected off the pleather. My eyes heavy with broken sleep between nursing teams coming in and our newborn reminding us of his empty tummy or used diaper.

What an incredible blessing—truthfully.

For those who know me, I find that my fuse can run short quickly, especially when sleep is at a premium. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. But in the middle of this night, this picture brought more peace and gratitude than anything in the world.

My wife and I have been trusted by God for this new little life. To be responsible for this eternal soul welcomed in as a newborn baby. How could this good God trust such a broken, imperfect father to care for this life?

Fast forward a couple of weekends. Our church has been walking through Deuteronomy, but our pastor made a comment about parenting that felt like I was transported back 5 years when our daughter was born, and now refreshed with our son's coming into the world.

Moses consistently reminds the people of Israel of all that God has done and brought them through, the failures of the people, and the promise God has awaiting for them.

I struggle with wanting to keep my kids safe from pain and heartache. I would gladly take all the pain and hurt from them. But our pastor's words were like a dagger to my heart. In a world of gentle parenting and disconnected relationships, God calls us to be different.

We are called to PREPARE them, not just PROTECT them.

In my years as a youth pastor, I saw too many parents who did such a disservice to their kids by PROTECTING instead of PREPARING. They fought every battle, kept their kids away from challenges, justified a failure as someone else’s fault, and did many other things to protect their kids from reality.

The paradox of parenting is that our love wants to keep them away from pain and failure, and yet failure and pain are some of the greatest tools for growth and character building.

A major factor is not the experience of failure, but the environment we create for our kids to fail.

This doesn’t mean we go out of our way or refuse to be a support system for our kids. But it does mean that we need to provide a healthy, loving environment so when our kids face failure, pain, hurt, and other negative aspects of life, they have a space to go for support and help.

This is why parenting, in my opinion, is one of the hardest responsibilities in life. The nights I lay awake beating myself up for not being attentive enough, not being patient enough, not listening well enough, and feeling like my kids got the short end of the stick having me as their father.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It’s a battlefield. A battle for their hearts, minds, and souls.

I’m no perfect parent. I hope my kids see a dad who is trying his best, loving them completely, and preparing them for a world that will hate them because of their faith.

PARENTS - Don’t PROTECT them, PREPARE them for the wilderness and trials. Soon you won’t be there to PROTECT.

We don’t make great warriors by just protecting them. We need to prepare them for what this world and the enemy, who will do whatever possible to draw them from God.

PARENTS: I want to echo my pastor’s words as a charge to you. Join me in this: We are called to PREPARE them, not just PROTECT them.

Our kids will walk through war and wilderness of the soul. What are we doing to prepare them?

We need to prepare them, NOW.

Because someday soon, we won’t be there to protect them.

I felt stuck.

Overwhelmed.

Confused.

Misunderstood.

Ill-informed.

Fearful.

For most of my childhood, I lived in fear. Fear of never measuring up to the success and skills of my siblings. Fear of being the mutt of the family. Fear of being the worthless friend. Fear of being someone who was more of a burden than a blessing.

Fear controlled me.

Fear directed me.

Fear nearly destroyed me.

Until this day…

Another day full of tests and doctor visits. Another round of water poured into my swimming pool of fear.

I was getting set up for another scan of my heart before making plans for the open-heart surgery in the near future. It seemed that with every test, the issue grew and became less certain.

For this test, I was given headphones to listen to music because it could take a while. The kind nurse asked what radio station I wanted in my headphones.

I nearly chose 104.7, a modern hits radio station, so maybe I could numb my mind with the shallow lyrics talking about all the “great” things in life while I’m stuck on this hard, plastic bed, enduring another test, wondering if this test would only bring more questions.

At the time, I was attending Northwestern College (now known as University of Northwestern, St. Paul), and we had a campus radio station, KTIS, a Christian station.

For some odd reason, I didn’t get a chance to think and told them “98.5”.

So I lay down, got “comfortable”, and the machine hummed to life.

To this day, I don’t remember anything else that transpired the remainder of the day because God met me in the middle of that test. For the first time in my life, there was nothing but peace.

The machine’s hum silenced. My nerves calmed. My fear abolished. When the words of a song came on:

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

These words felt like a buoy to my soul. I went from feeling like I was drowning in fear at the bottom of the swimming pool to lounging on a floaty, enjoying the warmth of God’s presence.

For the first time in my life, I experienced the casting out of fear. I saw fear be defeated and drowned in His faithfulness.

As the surgeries were scheduled, I created an “encouragement list” of key verses that gave me hope, and Paul’s words from Philippians became my anthem in this season.:

The Bible came to life for me. From someone controlled by fear to having a peace that transcended every logical thought or worry could only have been from God.

I went from being skeptical to secure. Secure that God’s words are true, and I can build my life upon them.

Over the next few months, we began to plan and prepare for the first surgery, which, ultimately, was unsuccessful, which led to another surgery over 6 months later that was successful.

But no matter the failures, more tests, doctor visits, and unsuccessfulness experienced during this time, the peace of God covered and consumed me.

Logically, it made no sense for an 18-year-old athlete who was just starting college and looking at serious heart surgery in the face to be so at peace.

In fact, many people in my life claimed I was either in denial or hiding my fear to try to “act tough.”

Honestly, I didn’t blame them. It didn’t make sense to me. That’s what Paul means when he says, “And the peace of God, that transcends all understanding…”

Recently, a song has grown in popularity that has become a renewed anthem for my story. Another opportunity to be reminded of the faithfulness of God and His Word:

I've still got joy in chaos
I've got peace that makes no sense
So I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength

I don’t know where you are in life. I don’t know what you are experiencing or walking through. I don’t know the pains or fears that are attacking you.

All I can do is tell you about a peace that doesn’t make any sense. A peace that doesn’t just give you momentary relief, but complete comfort, no matter the circumstance.

Maybe you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, confused, misunderstood, ill-informed, or fearful.

I’ve been there. It’s difficult. It can feel impossible to overcome.

There is a peace available.

There is hope accessible.

If I can help encourage you in any way, please reach out. The worst thing we can do is live in isolation. I believe God sometimes allows and invites us to walk difficult roads so that we can be an encouragement and a lighthouse for others walking similar paths.

God’s peace is not just momentary, but transcendent. And it’s available to you today.

Most mornings, I like to flip on Sportscenter to catch up on the games the night before, that morning started like many others. Until, I felt the urge to turn off the TV and just have some worship music playing while we welcomed in a new day.

A familiar song begins to fill the air and when the bridge hit, it felt as if my heart became covered in a weighted blanket. A weight that was comforting and welcoming to another divine appointment.

A reminder of identity and hope.

The bridge goes like this…

This simple phrase repeated six times, but it could have been a hundred. These words transformed the townhome living room into a chapel. These words were not new to me. I’ve sang these words numerous times, but this morning was different.

These words not only transformed our living room, but it transported my heart and mind as well.

In my life, I have always battled the idea of being good enough. Questioning if I am even worth anyone knowing or involving me in their lives. I have asked myself “what do I have to offer to anyone?” more times than I could possibly count.

Maybe you have asked this question too. I’m with you.

I don’t have any profound, life-altering golden nugget for you to tweet or tattoo. All I have is what I felt God speak to my heart that morning.

“I don’t need you to HAVE it all, I just want you to BRING it all.”

If I had it all, what would I need God for? If I lacked nothing, where would faith enter in? If I was perfect, why would Christ need to die?

It wasn’t about HAVING it all, it was for me to BRING it all.

It was just coming before the Lord saying, “Here I am, Lord. Whatever You ask, I want to say ‘yes’.”

Too often, we have this belief that we are useless unless we have incredible influence. Or possibly that our value is based on other’s evaluation. But the truth is not about having it all, but our willingness to bring it all.

The song goes on to say, “I am available.”

This is my new morning mantra. Every day, I will tell the Lord, “I am available.”

It’s nothing profound. It’s just a simple posture of surrender.

Whatever may come, wherever I may go, whomever I meet, I want to be available for what God wants to do.

Our world needs Christians to embrace this posture. Avoid the desire to accomplish our own agendas, and making ourselves available to what God will call us to.

Will you join me in saying, “God, I am available”?

If so, comment below, “I am available.” Let’s see what God can do with our “yes.”

In the early hours of a brisk winter morning. The chilled air filling my lungs with each breath and the cries of a newborn demanding I feed his “empty” stomach ringing in my ears. Most nights, my goal is to feed and get him back down as fast as possible, but tonight I had an unexpected divine appointment.

Before I jump in, let me be vulnerable for a second. I hate failure. I can’t stand to look incapable or ill-equipped in any area of life. Maybe you are like me too, but what I found is that I often disarm myself and recede to passivity. My belief is that if I choose not to do anything, then I can be saved from any potential failure or signs of weakness.

However, I don’t believe this is where or how Christians should live. We are told that we have been given a spirit power, love and self-discipline, not one of timidity or fear (2 Timothy 1:7). We find that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Therefore, we should not fear failure, but use it as a tool to experience greater faith.

That is what God’s appointment with me was about. The Holy Spirit prompted me in the middle of changing a poopy diaper, something my soul needed:

Nothing wildly profound and something I’m sure has been said in a variety of forms on countless podcasts, sermons, and studies. But nevertheless, a nugget was spoken to my spirit from God.

As I sat back down to try to get my son to finish the rest of his bottle, I began to reflect back on my life, especially the moments where I felt closest to God or when my faith deepened. I found that many of these were preceded by moments of failure or temptations of timidity.

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It made me think of one of the most infamous stories in the Bible. A story many of us like to use to rag on Peter. Leading up to Jesus’ death, he predicted that Peter would deny him 3 times. Peter, of course, retorted and claimed he could never imagine failing this miserably. But, as we all know, Jesus was right.

Peter denying Jesus 3 times must have felt like the worst failure possible. I can’t imagine the weight he carried, the doubt he experienced, or the pain of letting down his Savior.

And when Peter found himself in that boat and he saw Jesus on the shore, he had two main choices: flee in fear or face his failure. Which path was he going to take?

Peter could have waited for the boat to get ashore, but his desperation led him to leap into the water and swim to Jesus. When he came ashore, Jesus restored him, solidified his faith, and called Peter to a deeper faith and trust in Jesus. This paved the way for Peter to become the rock on which God would build the Church.

Imagine the consequences that would echo in our lives if Peter was too afraid to face his failure that he chose not to do anything. What if he chose to stay in the boat and refuse to face his failure in the eyes and words of the Savior.

I’m not saying we have to fall in love with failure, but I am challenging us to see failure as a pathway to greater faith, instead of seeing it as something to avoid.

As I laid my son back down to sleep after changing his poopy diaper, filling his tummy with some milk, and rocking him back-and-forth I begin to think of some failures in my life.

• I fail at being an attentive father.

• I fail at being a supportive husband.

• I fail at being an intentional friend.

• I fail at sticking to a healthy lifestyle.

• I fail at consistently reading books to help me grow.

• I fail at controlling my anger.

• I fail at seeing the good in people.

• I fail at ___________________ (fill in the blank).

But where I used to just see failure, I now see opportunities for greater faith. Where I used to see weakness, I now see moments to experience God’s power through me. Where I used to be filled with fear, I now see chances to grow in my hope in God.

So I’m not sure if you connect at all with this, but hopefully you can be encouraged not to fear failure, but see it as a pathway to greater faith.

I believe this shift can disarm one of the enemy’s greatest weapons and give us power, not just for ourselves, but to be an example for countless others.

Have you ever been abandoned by someone close to you? A person who just up and left, especially in a moment of need? I’m sure we all have and it’s incredibly painful.

Over the past few years, God has had me marinating on a small seemingly insignificant scripture passage, and I felt it was time to share.

During this time, God has been reminding me about a quiet story in John 6. He keeps bringing me back to this part of Scripture. I have read over many times, but hadn’t taken much time to pause and see what was going on here. I see an interaction in which, I believe, a powerful moment of Jesus' humanity is revealed.

John 6 contains the famous “Feeding of the Five Thousand” and Jesus’ “Walking on Water,” which are two of the most famous miracles in Jesus’ life, but neither of these is what God wanted me to focus on. And honestly, I think this quiet story is something we all need to hear.

My attention was drawn to verses 60-69 to witness this moment of Jesus. Remember, this chapter begins with the feeding of the five thousand, followed by some water walking, and then Jesus begins teaching and calling his “followers” to take a step of faith, to not just follow Jesus because of the miracles or benefits, but because of an authentic faith.

In these verses, we see people choosing to walk away from Jesus because of that very call. These people chose it was time to leave, to go back to their lives, and abandon Jesus.

Maybe they believed they could find something more fulfilling than following Jesus. Maybe they just wanted the hype of the moment, but not a transformed heart and life. Maybe they were afraid of what they may experience.

Have you ever paused and thought about how many people quit following Jesus while he was on earth? They heard his voice and saw the miracles, and yet, they chose that Jesus wasn’t worth it.

He wasn’t worth the struggle. He wasn’t worth the sacrifice. He wasn’t worth the surrender.

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And honestly, my first thought was that I couldn’t imagine doing that. The absurdity and stupidity! Don’t these goons realize this is Jesus, the Son of God, Savior of souls, and they only hope on earth?

Don’t worry, I can actually feel the log in my eye as these words filled my heart and mind.

But, if I’m honest, too often in life I have made that very decision when I choose sin and selfishness over my savior. Don’t I realize who Jesus is in my life? These failures can come in many forms, but the root is always the same—valuing my wants over Christ’s ways.

These words just make my heart sink. I don’t know the tone of Jesus’ voice when he asked this question. I could be completely insane to attribute this it Jesus. But I do believe his heart was broken, and he was full of sorrow as he watched so many people leave.

The Savior watched as souls ushered themselves into eternal separation from him. Maybe in that moment, he wondered if his disciples, whom he had spent so much time with, were going to leave as well.

Can’t you feel that pain from some time in your life? The pain of someone you cared about walking away?

There are moments when reading Scripture that I feel deeply connected with Jesus. Where it feels like he put words to my wounds, and this passage is one of those. I’ve felt that pain and abandonment. I watched as people decided I wasn’t worth their time. I was wounded.

It returns me to when I was let go from a job. It was abrupt and seemingly out of nowhere. Overnight, my wife and I were abandoned by many in our lives. People who claimed to be friends cut us off. Those who said they were in our corner vanished. This abandonment made me look at many in my life and ask just as Jesus did, “Are you going to leave too?”

Pain. Loneliness. Backstabbed. Betrayed. Hurt. Abandoned.

I can imagine Jesus’ heart breaking as he saw people walk away, believing their lives were better without him. People who just wanted Jesus for the intrigue, blessings, or just following a crowd. So I began to contemplate that perhaps many of those relationships I lost were based more on convenience than on actual commitment.

I learned my lesson from before and I began with the log in my own eye before checking the dust in another’s. I had to ask myself, “Do I value the person or just the presence/product of them being around?” Do I really want them in my life, or just what they can give me?

And dare I say, I wasn’t innocent in every relationship. I had to seek forgiveness and commit to change so I could avoid causing the same pain in others’ lives that I felt in mine.

So when it comes to Jesus, do I genuinely want him or just the miracles, the feel-good moments, or “fire insurance”? Will I be like the people who walked away when Jesus wanted more, or do I find myself echoing Peter’s words as he answered Jesus’ question:

Peter is often the “speak before you think” guy, but his words here are powerful and real. He didn’t put up a facade and give a profound answer. Instead, he was raw, simple and just said “where else would we go?”

I don’t think Peter was trying to kiss up or trying to earn brownie points. I believe he was authentic and honest. He had left his previous life and expectations to follow Jesus, so where else would he go?

Friend, we face constant temptation to walk away from Jesus, to try to find life on our own, only to be reminded how empty we are left feeling. We were created to be in relation with God for eternity, and anything other than that will leave us unfulfilled.

Maybe you have felt abandoned like I have. Maybe you have asked a question similar to Jesus. I want you to know that not only do I understand, but be reminded that our Savior experienced abandonment as well.

Today, let us echo Peter’s words and know that it may not always be easy or even make sense, but there is nowhere else for us to find life outside of Jesus.

You don’t have to have the greatest and deepest theological answer. Your words don’t have to be full of divine wisdom.

Just be real. Be authentic. Be vulnerable.

There’s no one like Jesus, and all that we need can be found in him. So when you find yourself feeling lost, disoriented, or abandoned, may Peter’s words remind you where life is found.

Jesus is the source of all life and hope, there is nowhere else to go.

I have read the story of Zacchaeus more times than I can count. It’s always been one of my favorite interactions of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Maybe it’s because I was always one of the shortest people growing up, so I could relate to him being vertically challenged.

But for some reason, today’s reading was different. This new “revelation” of the story was inspired by a Facebook reel and a children’s Bible story.

You know God is trying to tell you something when a random podcast reel lines up with the nighttime Bible story I read to my daughter.

What I was so encouraged by this time around was something I have quoted and talked about before, but this truth was deeper than just the basic story level. Maybe you have heard this before but have you ever thought about the power of Jesus’ words that day?

Zacchaeus was hated by almost every one in his area. Being a tax collector was seen as being a sellout to the foreign government and a thief, as many tax collectors were known to add extra fees on in order to line their own pockets. He had become VERY rich because of this practice.

But Zacchaeus wasn’t just a tax collector, he was the CHIEF tax collector. He was the snake of all snakes. Today, this dirty, rotten sinner, didn’t want people’s money, he just wanted to see this Jesus that he has heard much about.

Since he was the chief tax collector, I could imagine that Zacchaeus didn’t often hear his name in a positive light. Maybe he was even called incredibly insulting names, shunned from the community, or treated viciously.

But today, was different. Today, he wouldn’t be known as the chief tax collector, sellout, or whatever else people would call him.

No, today, he would be Zacchaeus.

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What emotions was Zacchaeus feeling? Maybe he was just trying to keep a low profile, hide in the tree, and get a feel for this Jesus guy.

He was there to see Jesus, but it was Jesus who saw him that day, and it changed his life.

While Jesus saw him and called him by name, we see in verse 7 that the people around still saw him for his sin. They couldn’t believe this righteous teacher, Jesus, would ever go into the home of this wretched person.

I wish I could be appalled by their reaction, but if I am honest, I still fall into this mentality at times. I still too often judge and define someone by the sin they struggle with, instead of the Savior they, and I, trust in.

It also makes me reflet inward and ask—How often do I define my identity based on my sin?

Just as Jesus didn’t see Zacchaeus for his sin, neither does he see us for ours. Of course, God knows and sees our sin, but He doesn’t define our identity by it. Jesus sees us for who God created us to be. He sees us through his perfect sacrifice so that we can be made right with God. Jesus sees us. He sees you.

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Unfortunately, there will always be people who refuse to see us the way Christ does. I implore you to fight against that temptation in your own life. We will never experience the life and freedom in Jesus if we continue to form our identity based on our sin.

When we choose to see people for who they are in Christ, instead of what sin they may struggle with, we create an avenue for them to experience life in Jesus.

When we come into contact with Jesus and he calls us by name, it changes us. Zacchaeus was so moved by Jesus seeing him, not his sin, that he gave up what he valued most before meeting Jesus. True encounters with Jesus changes you.

Jesus showed up in my life in the man of Kenny. I remember how he saw me. He didn’t define me as the sin I was struggling with. He didn’t see me as a young man desperate to fit in and feel valued. He didn’t see me as the awful, two-faced kid who just wanted to be wanted.

Kenny was Jesus to me. He saw me as Austin. He saw me as a young man who God desperately loved.

Maybe you have your own Kenny. Maybe someone has been Jesus to your Zacchaeus.

Unlike Zacchaeus, we don’t have to climb trees, fight through crowds, or battle for Christ’s attention. We just need to show up and seek Him.

Rest assured, Jesus sees you. He wants you. He doesn’t define you by your sin, like ourselves and others do. He sees you as a son/daughter of the King of Heaven.

Zacchaeus’ life was dramatically changed because Jesus saw and called him by name. Who is the Zacchaeus in your life?

Side note - I won’t be playing Christmas music until the day AFTER Thanksgiving. Yes, go ahead and say bah humbug or call me a grinch, but I love the Thanksgiving season. I find that I desperately need it because I can often move too fast and leave gratitude and thanks aside for when it’s convenient.

During a recent sermon, our pastor read this verse, and, full disclosure, I wanted to just keep moving along. But I felt a tug. A tug just soft enough to be tempted to ignore, but firm enough to beg for my attention. Or maybe it was like that slight tickle in your throat that you can’t ignore for too long before it makes you viciously cough.

Either way, it wasn’t going away until I addressed it.

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When I read this verse, I want to stop at “be thankful” so that I can choose WHO, WHAT, HOW, WHERE, and WHEN to be thankful. I want to be in control of my thankfulness. I proudly say that I “want to be authentic,” but really, it’s so that I can withhold thankfulness from people or situations I want.

I’m not always joyful. I struggle to pray at times. I find my natural tendency is to doubt and complain. So I wish I could erase this verse. I wish I could pick and choose which verses to follow because it would be easier that way.

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But that’s how you know those are God’s words, not man’s. Man wants to create excuses and justify sin. Man wants to run from change and humility. Man wants to define morality based on what’s convenient or popular.

But the apostle Paul is calling all of us to something radical and counter to our nature. He calls us to ALWAYS be thankful, NEVER stop praying, and be thankful in ALL circumstances, because THIS is God’s will for us.

While our world complains and collapses, especially during the difficult times, God offers us joy.

Life may be difficult. Prayer may be hard at times. But keep talking with your Heavenly Father, who cares for you.

It can be challenging to be thankful no matter what. But when we have Jesus, we have all we need.

You may be walking through the most challenging season of your life. There is joy available in Jesus.

You may feel like your prayers are going unanswered and that you are losing the desire to pray. Keep praying, God hears you.

It may feel like everything is going wrong and there is nothing to be thankful for. Pause and find just one thing to be grateful for.

As I reflect on this verse, I am reminded of one of the hardest weeks I have ever faced. I wrote at length about it here—Even When It Hurts.

But I remember lying in my hospital bed, wondering if this was my new normal with paralysis and the inability to have more kids. I was struggling to find joy, battling the desire to pray, and to maintain a spirit of thankfulness amidst it all.

But I remember one night as sleep was eluding me, I felt my spirit stir and God whispered a truth that I hold onto today:

Life is not FAIR, but God is FAITHFUL, and for that - I am grateful.

This doesn’t mean life is all peachy or that there won’t be incredibly dark and difficult days, but it does mean we can face them with a purpose. The way we walk through difficult days can be the most incredible testimony to our faith to non-believers.

When we have Jesus, we can always experience joy. Because of God’s love for us, we can lift up our prayers—both beautiful and ugly ones. Through Jesus, we can be thankful no matter the circumstance.

So, friend, I echo Paul’s word from my heart to yours. Always be joyful. Don’t stop praying. And remember to be thankful for what you do have because in Jesus, we have all we need.

I can find myself so drowned out by the demands of life, busyness of a husband and father, and trying to pursue my passions. When my eyes become too accustomed to being downcast and focused on the daily grind, I begin to believe I’m the god of my own life.

That somehow my hands were the ones to create and direct the universe.

When I find myself in these moments, with the weight of the world slowly crushing my soul, I begin to drown in the “I cant’s” where I forget whose I am.

I absolutely love this quote from a great father of the faith. A quote that I go back to often when I find myself in these moments—

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Believer, you are not just another creation. You are not just another person. You are not just another.

You are divinely, uniquely designed and created by the One who formed everything we see and don’t see, from the smallest of atoms to the massive stars in the universe.

People will spend exorbitant amounts of money, sacrifice relationships, and sabotage their own lives to travel to far off lands or partake in wild experiences, but they never stop to wonder at how God created them.

They begin to chase these places and experiences believing they can fill the void that only God could.

There’s beauty and awe found within God’s creation, and we all would benefit from spending some more time wondering at God’s creation.

But don’t forget that we are His greatest creation. He formed us in His own image, apart from the rest. He knit us together in our mother’s wombs on purpose and for a purpose.

You are not an accident. You are not a burden. You are not a disappointment.

It’s okay to wonder and awe at God’s creation, but don’t forget who God says you are.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Genesis 1:26

How can a dad say no to a sweet 4-year-old smile and tender voice?

What is it about children’s books? Somehow, these simplistic books communicate powerful truths. I am convinced some of these are written for adults if we choose to pay attention. I have been encouraged and challenged many times by these children’s books.

One of my favorite things is how much my daughter loves books. She definitely gets that from her mother, because I have to force myself to read.

But my proudest aspect is how she always asks for her Bible story before bed. It’s a non-negotiable for her. This new Bible we got for her has a summary statement, questions to help learn each story, and a simple prayer. Hearing her soft voice speak eternal truths always lifts my spirit more than she can ever know.

But I write this as one of her favorite books reminded me of a truth. This truth is so profound that I knew I would be plagued with my late-night thoughts if I didn’t take the time to reflect. As a dad, I have enough restless nights on my own, so let’s not add a children’s book to the insomnia list.

This book was like a piece of food stuck in my tooth that I couldn’t dislodge. A rock in my shoe that plays hide-and-seek. It was going to persist until I took the time to intentionally address it.

The book that brought this nagging epiphany? Mad, Mad, Mad Toy Craze - The Berenstain Bears.

I’ll give you the SparkNotes version so we can keep moving. In this book, the little bears are obsessed with this new toy similar to Beanie Babies - yes, that probably dates me for better or worse. The bears’ new toy obsession was Beary Bubbies.

This craze overwhelms everyone from kids to adults, and it’s a contest to see how many one can get. The problem is that there is ALWAYS another who has more, so the craze only intensifies.

The bears begin saving up money, asking for an advance on their allowance, and finding ways to get enough money to take hold of these furry treasures.

The funny part of this story is that Papa Bear does some research and finds out how rare and valuable these furry friends can be to the right buyer. He, too, gets hypnotized by this fad. So Papa gathers the kids up and hauls into town to stand in a never-ending line just to get hold of this “treasure.”

But they finally get their hands on a few “Beary Bubbies,” and they are filled with joy. The problem is that the greater popularity these toys had, the more places carried and sold them.

As supply goes UP, demand goes DOWN, and now our bears are drowning in Beary Bubbies.

It went from waiting in a line hoping to get their hands on one toy, to not being able to go anywhere without having one of these toys given to them. Tank of gas? Toy. Cereal Box? Toy. They couldn’t get away from the toy craze.

The joy and adrenaline that once captured hearts now brought dread and annoyance. Their world has turned. The dream has become a nightmare.

We have all experienced this in life. Our joy turns to indifference. Things we used to desire have become so commonplace that our passion no longer drives us. This is the trap of the toy craze, and we are not immune to falling into it.

Supply and demand are a very real part of life. But what about when it comes to faith? Have we become numb to things of faith?

We used to get passionate about opening our Bibles, but now it can feel like a chore. Before, we were moved by worship, but now we don’t even want to raise our hands or sing. Previously, we found every reason to be around other believers, and now we find excuses to miss church or Bible studies.

Have we forgotten the joy of salvation, the hope of our hearts, and the purpose of our lives?

Believer, don’t fall victim to the “toy craze” of life.

Let us be filled with passion that honors Christ. A life that doesn’t get caught up in the menial parts of life, but is focused on purpose and impact.

We aren’t chasing the prize of a Beary Bubbie, a good life, or comfort, but an eternal prize. One that does not rust, rot, or rip apart.

Have you ever seen a toy that brought back vivid memories?

As my wife and I prepare for our son's birth in the coming weeks, our house has felt like a lived-in storage unit, with boxes scattered around containing old toys and clothes. As we opened each box, memories danced around our minds. Memories of first-time parents trying to figure out how to be responsible for a new life that God entrusted to us.

Being a new parent was scary, exciting, stressful, and wonderful.

I wish I could say all these memories were great. Memories full of love and life, but there was also pain tucked amongst these toys and clothes. Pain of mistakes, difficult conversations, and lonely nights. Not only was our daughter born in the middle of the pandemic that caused people to distance themselves, but we also had gone through a season where many of our “friends” abandoned us—pain.

As my wife and I reminisced about years past, my eyes caught my daughter “discovering” her old toys. Gasp after excited gasp filled the air. I am always amazed at how kids can be infatuated with the simplest things. Her smile from ear to ear as if these toys never existed, and the joy could melt the hardest of hearts.

She had become infatuated with this old toy bin. Her curiosity and intrigue made that afternoon feel like Christmas morning. She rummaged through this bin, taking out one toy at a time, enchanted at each one.

I couldn’t help but be filled with joy and gratitude for this old toy bin. Remembering the journey my wife and I have walked over these past 5 years. Mountain highs and valley lows. Some memories felt like a book layered with years of dust, while others seemed as if they had happened just yesterday.

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It made me pause and stop for a moment. I often find myself too busy and distracted in life to take time to reminisce and remember. To be reminded of the faithfulness of God, consistent love from my wife, and steady support of our loved ones, no matter the season we find ourselves in.

I think, if you are honest, you could say amen for your own life.

As the boxes were slowly sorted through, and some were “redistributed” back into my daughter’s possession, this scripture came to mind as a reminder of God’s presence throughout it all.

These words have always moved me. I couldn’t imagine being one of the disciples and hearing those words. To have walked with Jesus, seen the miracles, experienced the suffering, yet believing in the promises of Jesus even when it didn’t make sense. The end of the Great Commission was a promise that no matter what they faced, success or failure, the presence of God was with them.

And that same presence is with us today.

My concern is that we can become so overwhelmed by life's demands that we lose sight of the awe of remembering the journey we have walked.

The old toy bin was more than just that. It was an invitation from the Almighty to remember. Remember His goodness. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His promises. Remember His presence.

Today, find an old toy bin and remember. Take time every so often to reminisce. Set aside time to thank God for all He has done and know that He is with you even to the end of the age.

As I broke up my Bible this morning to spend the few quiet moments I find in my day before my toddler awakens from her slumber, God brought this verse to life as a charge for myself, but I believe we all need this truth.

Paul ends his 2nd letter to the Corinthians and during his letter, he shares his love, yet frustration, with these believers. Isn’t frustration almost a prerequisite for love? Not in the aspect of anger, but the deep, profound love drives us to want the best for others. It makes our hearts heavy and spirits desperate.

This is what I can hear in Paul’s words, deep and passionate love for these people. I cannot imagine the responsibility and weight he carried by being a pastor to so many people and provinces. Yet, when God marked his life on the day of Stephen’s stoning, his desperate love for these people called him to travel countless miles across land and sea, endure suffering and persecution, for the sake of these souls.

Paul has an incredible pastor’s heart and his final written words to the Corinthian church met me in my corner spot in my couch this morning. So I want to break down 4 “charges” he gives and I hope you are as encouraged as I was on this beautiful fall morning.

Be JOYFUL

Whenever I hear this phrase or words, I hear “Just be happy.” I’ve literally had people tell me those words when I found myself in my depression. Just what I needed to hear, thanks...

I was in a leadership meeting for our church’s men’s ministry the other week, and we spent some time wrestling with the idea of the gap between KNOWING and BEING. (This is a post I am working on and hope to share soon.)

During our time, we talked about how we can experience moments of the joy, patience, kindness, self-control, and so on. Without the Holy Spirit, that’s all they are moments or seasons of these. But when we have the Spirit, we can BE joyful, BE patient, BE kind.

It’s not just moments, but attitudes and mindsets. I was able to be at patient while I walked through my heart surgeries. While I was hospitalized with paralysis, I was to be joyful. When my wife and I walked through our two miscarriages, I could be at peace.

In our world filled with pain and chaos, through the Holy Spirit we can BE people of peace, joy, patience, and other fruits of the Spirit. We can move from KNOWING to BEING.

Grow to MATURITY

“If you aren’t growing, you’re dying.” Although I am not a big fan of this phrase, I get it. But I think there is something more accurate

“We all growing toward something.”

I believe this is a more accurate statement. We are living beings which means we are growing. The question is to what, where, or who are we growing.

Paul charges these believers to grow toward maturity. To lay down our old, immature ways of living and strive for a greater life. As we spent more time in Christ and with believers, we should be growing in our faith.

If we aren’t growing TOWARDS Christ, we are growing FROM Christ.

Encourage EACH OTHER

We were created to be in community with one another. In the very fiber of our souls, we have community stitched in us.

If you still want to live in personal denial, just take a moment to look around. People are plagued with the need for encouragement. We are weighed down by the responsibilities, failures, and unrealistic expectations.

Our world is full of negativity, demeaning comments, and backstabbing. To live counter-cultural, is to be a person of encouragement.

Take a moment and think back to the most recent time someone encouraged and uplifted you. How did you feel? How did it affect your self-image? Did it give you energy and passion?

What worries me is that someone of us have a very difficult time even remembering the last time someone encouraged us. This breaks my heart. As Christians, we should be constant encouragers, especially to our brothers and sisters of the faith.

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Reach out to someone to encourage, thank, or uplift them. Face-to-face is best, calling is great, texting works as well. But be intentional and specific in your encouragement.

I believe God loves when we encourage one another, but I know that no person on earth gets enough encouragement.

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Live in HARMONY and PEACE

Chaos and disorder have become so commonplace in our lives that harmony and peace seem foreign and uncomfortable.

When I hear harmony, I think about working together in agreement. Harmony is about working together for the common goal and believing in the way to accomplish it.

Peace is more of a sense of commitment to come together despite having differences. It’s the ability to have stability no matter the circumstances.

So when I see Paul write these words, I feel seen and understood. He isn’t trying to whitewash our lives, but be realistic while calling us to a higher goal—to work together to share the Good News of Christ even when we see things a little differently.

This can be one of the greatest witnesses to our faith. We are able to seek harmony and peace when the world teaches separation and hostility. I can personally attest that people take notice and begin to wonder how you are able to have peace in seemingly hopeless times.

I’m not sure if one, all, or none of these struck you. But I believe Paul’s final written charge to the Corinthians is one that we all can apply to our lives.

Paul ends with a promise for these believers, but we all long for as well.

When we commit to living out these final four charges and calls, we are able to experience God’s presence through His love and peace. It won’t be an ancient proverb or hopeful wish, the God of Heaven will make His presence known in our lives.

This is my life verse, and on days like the last few, it anchors even deeper. Charlie finished well because he lived out the work assigned to him to the best of his ability. I pray we all live a life that reflects this verse.

I honestly hesitated to write this post, not because I wasn’t sure or didn’t believe it. I wanted my heart and spirit to mourn the loss of life and relationships. I wanted to knock on the doors of Heaven for a wife who lost her husband and two little children who are without their father.

This tragedy hits home very hard for me. I am 33, married, have a daughter, and expecting a son in a few weeks. I can’t imagine having my life taken away from my family. I can’t imagine my wife having to adjust to single parenthood, nor can I imagine my children growing up without their dad.

I know there have been too many travesties, but, honestly, this one hits me differently and deeply.

Our world has been filling with turmoil, especially in the past couple of years, and my heart wonders when enough will be enough, when the promise of Jesus’ return will come true, and the trumpet will sound.

I’m not one of those guys who claim we are in the end times every time some evil happens, but days like these make me wonder just how close this day is for us.

My heart is heavy, and my soul weary. Trusting God and His consistent character— His ability to turn loss into life, hurt into hope, and chaos into calmness.

Days like these have my heart echoing the words from Psalm 13 - “How long, O LORD?”

While we find ourselves in the waiting between earth and Heaven, it can be easy for us to respond evil with evil, hate with hate, pain with pain. But let us look to the example of Jesus and the martyrs who saw the ultimate goal of all our lives— eternity with Jesus.

We have a history of the power of the martyr:

Stephen was stoned in the street for speaking about Jesus. But Saul (Paul) was marked that day and never the same again. He became one of the greatest influences of the Christian faith.

James was killed by Herod, and Peter was told to stay silent. Yet, he preached at Pentecost and many were saved.

Jim Elliot was killed by a tribe, and many years later, the entire island was converted to Christianity.

There are many others, many whose story will never be told to us, but were seen by Jesus and welcomed into eternity with the words we all long to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

My urge is for believers not to seek vengeance but to remember the victory of Jesus. Charlie is walking in that victory today. Let us walk every day in the same victory, knowing that any day may be our last. Don’t fall into the enemy’s trap of using this for more pain and evil.

The enemy wins when we respond with hate. The enemy wins when we stay silent. The enemy wins when we soften the Gospel. The enemy wins when we decide to teach our children not to stand for their beliefs. The enemy wins when we stop sharing with others the forgiveness and sanctification available through Jesus. The enemy wins when we stop living out the word assigned to us by Jesus.

And I’m sick of the enemy winning. Let this be the turning point in our hearts, our nation, and our world. May a grave become an abundant garden.

I truly believe God has been stirring a revival and an awakening that has been on the cusp for the past few years. I believe God is ready to move, but are we?

The chaff is blowing off, and it’s time for the saints to take charge, get off the sidelines or out of the bleachers, and live and speak out the Good News of Jesus. The only hope that can be found in all this hurt; the only calm amidst the chaos; the only life that can be found in this loss.

Let us not forget, as believers, that this world is not our home. We can build lives, homes, families, businesses, and many things this side of Heaven, but one day we will cross over into our eternal home.

A home no longer in need of security and policing. A home no longer filled with pain and loss. A home no longer controlled by hatred or fear. A home without death. A home of peace. A home of life. A home for eternity. A home free.

Only God can turn a grave into a garden. Only God can save this country and the world, and He uses us to do so. Therefore, brother and sister, may you be charged with living out the Gospel despite the attacks from the enemy. Any pain we may face or be inflicted this side of Heaven is only temporary. Heaven awaits.

I want to end with these great words from the late Pastor John MacArthur. These words are true when we lose someone we admire or love, but these are also words that should speak to our hearts and give us the courage to live out the work assigned to us by Jesus.

Praying for the Kirk Family, Turning Point USA, and all who knew Charlie. Take a moment and hug those you love today.

Recently, the longing for quiet moments took my mind on a journey of introspection. Do I really love these quiet moments? Or am I too afraid to admit I am scared of them? Do I set intentional time aside to tap into this vein of life, or have I bought into the lie of our world?

The lie that quietness is a waste, lazy, or impossible.

January 1, 1983

A day that many believed to be just another start to a new year on this planet, perfectly positioned in the cosmos.

But this January 1 was different. It was the beginning of a seemingly limitless tool that humanity wasn’t prepared for, and consequences that have yet to come to fruition.

What was this day? It was the day many attribute to the birthday of the internet.

Now, before you write me off as a wanna-be boomer who thinks the internet is the devil in disguise, would you humor me for a minute?

I don’t think the internet is evil. I don’t think our world got worse BECAUSE of the internet. Nor do I believe the internet will be the downfall of humanity.

It’s simply a tool like a hammer, ladder, or crayon.

The difference lies in how they are used and the purpose for which each is intended.

A hammer can build a house or cause incredible damage.

A ladder can allow one to access greater heights, or it can be used to crush someone in the WWE.

A crayon can create a beautiful piece of art or “artfully” color the white walls of your home. (Parents, I know you can feel this in your bones, lol!)

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The internet can create connections with others, streamline information, and allow one to gain knowledge quicker and easier than ever before. However, as I saw too many times as a Youth Pastor, it can be used to amplify lies and degrade others.

Why do I write all this? What’s the purpose of my sounding as if I am walking the tightrope between pessimism and optimism?

I write this because I battle this every day—the battle between discipline and distraction.

The war, not only against my mind and time, but also against my soul.

I’ve heard it said that if the devil can’t flat-out destroy you, he will distract you from meaningful things in life.

It can take the form of the newest reality TV show that claims to be completely new, but it’s just a repackaging of the shallowness of our world. It can be in the buzzing of another meaningless notification on your phone. Distraction has many forms, no doubt.

I appreciate my smartphone, which allows me to tap into social media and see what’s going on with people I usually wouldn’t connect with. I’m grateful for a watch that reminds me to drink water and move a little more than I do, currently. I’m thankful I can play some video games that scratch the accomplishment-personality in me.

The danger is often not found in the tool, but in the purpose we assign to it.

When I elevate my digital world over the people in front of me, I’ve allowed distraction to win. I have chosen to follow the tool over caring for the people in front of me.

The times I rely on my watch to keep me focused on living healthier, I sacrifice discipline to be a compliant robot to my tech.

The moments when I find fulfillment or accomplishment in a video game over my family, friends, work, or God are when I have succumbed to artificial value over genuine relationships.

If I could take a moment to be transparent. I have been in a rut lately—a rut physically, a rut spiritually, a rut relationally, and it sucks. I have become a distracted disciple far too often.

Last week, I was sitting on my tan stitched fabric couch, book in hand, TV with a random show, Monopoly GO on my phone, and my tablet watching some Law & Order. I told you I was in a rut of distraction…

As I blankly stared into the blue light barrage of screens in front of me, I finished the book I had and discovered a quiet moment amidst the noise. In this quiet moment, a question danced around my mind.

Are people in my life better or worse because of the way I am living?

This question was like an alarm going off, attempting to wake me from this slumber of distraction I’ve been cradled in. Would I hit snooze and fall back into this rut, or would I turn intention into action?

My problem is that I am all too satisfied with things that carry no value. Too often, I chase after fleeting things. I fear that I have become addicted to being distracted.

I found that distraction got me into this rut, and distraction kept me in. The longer I went without practicing quietness, the more it felt as if moments of quiet grew into a greater sin with every passing day. Somehow, I was dirty or a failure because I wanted to tap into the power of quietness.

And there’s that temptation from the enemy to stay cleaved to the allure of distraction. To seek comfort over calling. To trade purpose with passiveness. To surrender discipline to the welcoming claws of distraction.

But we weren’t created for this. We have purpose stitched into the very fabric of our identity. We are not called to a life of distraction, but of discipline and joy. But if we don’t make discipline important, we are no different than a soggy, water-logged piece of driftwood being pushed wherever the currents of life decide.

The greatest tool to fight distraction is with intention and discipline. To live a life with focus and purpose.

Are people in my life better or worse because of the way I am living?

And so, as that question marinated in my mind and spirit, I thought of the encouraging words and purposeful intention my friend, , shared with me about his decision to swap out his phone for a book in his daily life routines. Read his incredible work here - DEVON'S POST

I decided to begin identifying the moments where distraction can sneak its slithery fingers into my life and repurpose them.

I used to prop up my phone while I showered to play music or watch a show, but now it’s my intentional time to pray over whatever comes to my heart and mind.

I used to turn on music in the car to alleviate the sound of 1000 questions and my name every other word when I brought my daughter to school or daycare. But now it’s our time to talk and point out all the colors of the cars we see. Our goal is to see how many different colors we can find in our commute every day.

The evenings where I want to disconnect to throw the embarrassing Minnesota Twins on, fire up my Xbox, or find some mind-numbing show to eat away at free time are now planned so that my wife and daughter get quality time, I can stay true to my book reading, or have space for some me time.

I am doing my best to create discipline where distraction has lived. To tear down the idols that thrived in that environment and place God back in His rightful place.

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Don’t get me twisted, I’m not calling us to throw all of our tech into a big fire as a sacrifice to God. I am encouraging you to ask the question I asked myself earlier:

Are people in my life better or worse because of the way I am living?

Although these other things are tools, we are not. We are eternal beings created in the very image of God. But too often, we can live as if they are.

Does your spouse see you looking at your phone instead of in their eyes and listening to their words?

Is the first thing your kid sees every day you on your phone?

When you find quiet moments, do you struggle not to fill those moments with doom scrolling?

I want to use technology as a tool to serve me, not for me to become its tool and serve it.

So that was longer than a minute, so please forgive me. As our world becomes increasingly inundated and reliant on technology, the battle against distraction will only intensify alongside it.

Will you become distracted or be disciplined to live a full life?

Whenever my time on earth comes to a close, there won’t be a single person who said they were grateful I spent more time on my phone than with people.

I don’t want to be overpowered by distraction anymore, and I hope you don’t either. I’d love to hear what some of of the things that distract you often? So feel free to comment!

“God, forgive this all-too-often distracted disciple and help me trade distraction for discipline.”

Little did I know that driving through the streets of the large, small town that I call home would be an appointment with my Creator. These unexpected moments have become some of the most meaningful moments in my life, I pray I continue to have these.

What I find so wonderful is that driving through certain neighborhoods tells the history of the area. Some are teeming with trees, as if the homes had been snuck in wherever the trees permitted. And others look as if they just cleared a farm field and dropped cookie-cutter homes to occupy the space.

There is something special about driving through neighborhoods filled with trees. There is history, there is life, there is a story to be told. However, this drive would be unlike the others. God was waiting to speak eternal truth amidst the chaos of cluttered yards and streets.

Our town just had back-to-back nights of severe weather. One night was nearly a derecho, which, if you are like me, I thought was either a made-up term or the sound the weather person made during a sneeze. But it’s real and dangerous. It can often bring hurricane-level winds and massive damage.

The morning after the second storm, I dropped my daughter off at daycare, and I meandered through the streets on my way to work, hoping to see some of the damage. My attraction to this pursuit was instilled in me as a child, when my family would stand on the roof of our ranch home and watch severe weather roll in.

On multiple occasions, I remember seeing wall and funnel clouds rolling right over our heads. Then my family and I would jump into my dad’s Jeep Grand Cherokee to assess whatever damage we could find.

As a kid, I was infatuated with seeing trees torn apart like string cheese, trampolines mimicking those flying spider nets, and whatever else the severe weather would leave as a mark of its visit to our area.

But this time, my mundane drive to work turned into an appointment with God; my eyes locked onto a tree where one of the largest branches had been ripped off by the damaging winds. But I didn’t stare at the branch; instead, my eyes were fixated on the trunk where this branch lived for who knows how many years. It was damaged, and this wound now exposing the inside of the tree.

Like this tree, I have experienced the pains of life that have created wounds, some of which have been visible to others and others have been hidden, out of what seemed like self-survival. A question I have asked more times than I can count - Will I ever heal?

I remember everything just going quiet. It felt like I had the remote from the movie, Click, and someone hit the MUTE button. It was a moment where my spirit connected with the Almighty. I experienced moments where I saw God’s faithfulness and grace at work in restoring and redeeming some of my past wounds. God has healed some of the wounds in my life, but others may never be fully healed this side of Heaven. This doesn’t mean I am destroyed, but I won’t be the same.

After the storm, this tree will never be the same, but it wasn’t destroyed. It will carry that mark for the rest of its existence, but it wasn’t its downfall. The same goes for each of us.

How many of us carry around wounds, some that are exposed and seen by others, or ones we can’t address because of the pain? How many of us have believed for too long that a past failure was the defining moment of our lives?

Perhaps you still believe this lie. Possibly, you still wrestle with the wounds and failures you have experienced. My challenge for you is to be like this tree and allow God’s grace and mercy to enter your heart so that you can experience forgiveness.

This doesn’t always mean the wound disappears; you will most likely have scars. Don’t fear them, scars are stories.

What story will you tell?

For too many years, I told stories of anger, resentment, selfishness, and regret.

I carried old wounds from my childhood and told stories that devalued myself and others - my parents’ divorce, overshadowed by my family and siblings, falling into temptations that plagued me for years, and times when I was the definition of two-faced to others.

I needed to see this tree on my drive. It created a moment where I could pause and remember the faithfulness of God. To pause and remember the healing through God I have experienced. While I was walking through these past pains, I had a hard time believing I could ever see them healed, but He did it.

Just like this tree may have a wound for a time, the tree can heal. The wound that is exposed now will become a mark in the tree to testify to what it has experienced through loss. It will be a story of not only surviving the pain, but also being able to thrive again.

The same goes for each of us. Physically, God created our bodies to heal themselves in many ways, which is so mind-blowing when you stop to think about that. Medically, there have been advancements that assist in the healing process. But we all long for a greater healing, an eternal healing.

Spiritually, God is our Jehovah-Rapha (The LORD who heals) who can turn the greatest pains into glorious proclamations of His power. I’ve heard it said that “with God, portraits of hurt turn into landscapes of grace.”

For some of us and some wounds, the healing may not happen this side of Heaven. It may be something we carry for the rest of our days. We can use this as an invitation to know God deeper and become more reliant on Him, or we can allow these wounds to drive us away; the choice is ours.

There are wounds I pray I can receive healing from, but I may ultimately need to wait until I step into eternity to be with the Creator. You aren’t alone, and I want you to know I’m not just surviving, but thriving, because of God’s faithfulness, and you can too.

What story will you tell?

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If I can help encourage or pray for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are in this together. Will you chase the Shepherd with me?

Perfection is a funny thing. It’s something that many of us know is impossible to achieve, yet it plagues the minds and lives of those who are unable to experience it. People are bound to this deep desire, but are left feeling empty. This is why I am calling this the PARADOX OF PERFECTION.

We strive for perfection and chase it, yet we are never truly able to take hold of it, a paradox. True perfection is impossible on our own, and I believe it may be impossible this side of Heaven.

I hope I’m not the only one who struggles with this, but I HATE it. But, honestly, I HATE it. I hate that I can’t be perfect. I hate that there is always something to improve. I hate that I won’t be perfect. I hate feeling that I can never arrive. I hate being in the middle of who I am and who I want to be.

So what do we do with this paradox? How do we live a life with passion and excitement, all while knowing perfection cannot be reached? For many people, this is debilitating and life-draining, but I believe that this is where we can experience God’s power in ways we can’t imagine. What does the Bible say?

I love these words from Paul. He understands that he can’t achieve perfection either, but it doesn’t stop him; in fact, I dare to say that it inspires him to be greater. Too many of us stop there and say, “Well, if I can’t achieve it, then it’s not worth chasing.” This attitude is plaguing our world today, and young people are becoming more and more impatient than ever before. They are growing up to believe that if they don’t get instant gratification, then it isn’t worth the effort.

The paradox of perfection, I believe, is a key ingredient in a mature, faith-filled life, but too many of us quit. Too many of us sacrifice a deep knowledge of God for a cheap, superficial experience. We need to become like Paul and keep chasing. I often remind myself with the phrase, “KEEP CHASING THE SHEPHERD.”

Perfection is a goal and something to strive for, but on this side of Heaven, we may never be able to achieve it. As you keep chasing the shepherd, you become more and more like Him and are growing in your pursuit of perfection. You aren’t perfect and THAT’S OKAY!

We cannot receive this heavenly prize that Paul talks about if we refuse to keep chasing. We will fail along the way, but we must keep pressing on. Failure is often the greatest teacher on the road to perfection. God has an amazing plan for your life, but I do not believe it’s possible to achieve it without participating in the paradox of perfection.

Would you join me on this quest? Here’s a great place to start — Read Philippians 3:12-14. Spend at least 5 minutes and ask God to check your heart and life when it comes to the paradox of perfection.

I believe the paradox of perfection can become the greatest reminder of our need for Jesus and empower us when the hurdles and failures of life come around.

Pierced like a needle through fabric, did my daughter’s words to my heart. Her eyes were welling with tears.

“Do you still love me?”

Words I never expected to hear from my toddler. No parenting class, book, or advice prepared me to hear these words.

We had just had to have a tough conversation about listening and our consequences when we choose not to, so we had to skip book reading this particular night.

The toddler stage is not for the faint of heart. Joy can turn to frustration in the matter of breaths. Next to marriage, parenting is the hardest thing I do. The delicate line between discipline and disgrace is incredibly thin.

The call of parents is to teach truth and instill values into their child. Unfortunately, our world is full of enabling and “gentle” parents who do more damage to a kid’s future than one may realize. The desire to “affirm” and to be more of a friend than a parent has poisoned many lives.

The difficulty of parenting is delicately shaping and molding a child’s identity and worldview. Parenting is a divine calling and cannot be taken lightly.

To shape and mold, parents must use correction. Without love, correction can be communicated as condemnation. And the enemy’s speak a language of condemnation.

As parents, God has entrusted an eternal soul to be nurtured and cared for by you. No parent is perfect, of course, but we should be reminded of this eternal weight.

But to look into my little girl’s eyes, where I worry the enemy has spoken lies already to her tender, innocent heart. Lies that she isn’t good enough. Lies that she needs to earn mine and others’ love. Lies that she wasn’t worthy of love. Lies that her mistakes means she’s a failure.

My fear was that somehow I had convinced her that my love is conditional.

I found myself pausing for a minute, trying to find the words that could erase whatever worry or fear that gripped her heart. Her eyes downcast, eyes welling, and posture distraught.

I took a breath. I asked her to look me in the eyes, I grabbed her hands, and looked her in the eyes, hoping these words didn’t fall on deaf ears.

“I want you to know something. Nothing you do could ever make me love you more, and nothing you do could ever make me love you less. I love you very much, and I am grateful God chose me to be your dad.”

Parenting has taught me so much about the heart of the Father to His children. In that moment, I would do anything to relieve her of this fear and for her to understand my boundless love for her.

All I could do was to give her a tender hug to remind her of my presence and commitment to her.

That is what authentic parenting resembles. It’s not about being perfect but battling fear with love, worry with hope, and doubt with presence.

The enemy hates families, especially those who seek to honor God. I know a battle is being waged against my family every day.

There is no perfect parent, but I want my daughter to know my love is not conditional, just like the Father. And His love is for you as well.

I haven’t done this in a while, but I think it is appropriate.

My challenge is for you to talk, text, or write to AT LEAST 3 people to express how much they mean to you. Our minds are battling identity and self-worth enough; let’s send some love to those in our lives.

Have you ever felt like your failure was too big for God to forgive?

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I never realized how much I would look forward to my daughter’s bedtime. Of course, I enjoy some quiet moments to myself, but also a space where my wife and I can spend time together. It may be watching the Minnesota Twins play atrocious baseball, some HGTV, or The Office.

I look forward to that time, but one of my favorite parts of every day is reading time with my daughter. She is like her mother and absolutely LOVES books! So we end every night by reading some books and ending with the Bible.

She loves books so much that, just this past weekend, she brought every single “stuffie” out into the loft so she could read to them. When I went upstairs, I could have sworn she had 100 “students” in her reading class. The teacher-student ratio was at a dangerous level.

She can’t read much, but her memory is impeccable. She can tell the story based on pictures and remember almost every word.

I am always amazed by this, but that amazement fades when she scolds me for “accidentally” skipping a page. But her love for books doesn’t just stop at Paw Patrol, Berenstain Bears, or Disney princesses; she LOVES reading her Bibles.

Her favorite story in her Bible is the story of Samson. Definitely not the one I expected her to be infatuated by, but she finds it so interesting.

I have read it more times than I can count, and I couldn’t help but immerse myself in the story. I spent time reading and marinating on the words, and two things stood out to me.

If you are familiar with the story of Samson, you know he loved to play with fire, whether that be honey, foreign ladies, or other temptations. We are no different.

This desire to play with fire is ingrained in all of us. We desire to push the limits as far as possible without getting in trouble. Don’t believe me? Just watch a toddler for a day, and you will see this to be true.

The issue isn’t that we are tempted to play with fire; it’s when we see the fire greater than our faith. Samson allowed his desires to outweigh his dedication. Just like Samson, when we play with fire, we eventually get burned.

Samson allowed the fire to burn away the greatest gift he had, his strength. Without his strength, he felt like just another person with no purpose, destined to suffer because he played with fire and got burned.

What worries me is that many people believe their life is over once they have been burned. The relationships are over. Their future is over.

But the story of Samson has possibly my favorite verse in the Bible. It has given me incredible encouragement when I find myself in my moments of failure.

Samson lost his strength, was captured by his enemies, had his eyes gouged out, and was forced into grinding grain. But this verse had eluded me in my previous readings. It was easy for me to skip over this to Samson pulling the temple down on his enemies.

But let this verse encourage you—just because you have been burned, doesn’t mean you have been destroyed. Your “hair” can grow back. You can experience life again. You can have hope.

I can imagine that before Samson prayed to God and destroyed his enemies, his fingers ran over his head, feeling the stubble of hair coming back. Even in his broken and beaten state, he can be reminded where his strength came from — God.

Samson’s greatest act against his enemies came after his greatest failure.

Just because you have been burned, doesn’t mean you have been destroyed.

Your hair can grow back.

What is your favorite weather?

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I love the bright blue skies, warm sun, scattered clouds, and a light breeze to keep me cool. These are the days I look forward to all year. But one thing to know about eastern South Dakota is the consistent and obnoxious wind.

While I, and many others, dread the strong winds, it got me thinking about kites.

I don’t remember the last time I flew a kite. It may have been 25+ years ago. I do remember, as a kid, I was amazed by something that used the annoying wind as a way to fulfill its purpose.

I may strongly dislike strong winds, but that has to be a dream for kites. Kites are pretty useless on calm days. Wind is essential for them to reach their fullest potential and enjoyment. Their purpose is strongest during a perceived inconvenience.

What if your life is no different?

Many people chase after dreams, spend bookoos of money, sacrifice relationships, and do countless other things in order to live a life of steadiness and stability. But in the 33 years I have been on earth, I have found myself more lost and distracted when I’ve experienced these seasons.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting or arguing that life needs to be chaotic or draining, but I think we all need a little wind in our lives. What if that is where we can fully live out our purpose?

A kite’s purpose is found in the wind. It’s able to dance, spin, soar, and mesmerize when it uses the wind as an advantage.

The same goes for each of us. Maybe the wind isn’t the enemy. Maybe the wind isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s time to embrace the wind.

What if instead of blaming or fearing the winds of life, we use them as a strength to show God’s power and our identity in Christ through it?

What if the wind is exactly where you can find your purpose?

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