Since the beginning of the year, I have been preaching through Paul’s letter of 1 Thessalonians. We’ve been taking a pretty deep dive, and examining Paul’s instructions and encouragement in detail. In doing so, I have been struck by the frequency of the concept of thankfulness found in this short letter. It might not be…
Reading The Early Church Fathers
Many years ago, I was inspired to read some of the earliest of Christian writers, the early Church Fathers. I set out upon this quest, and purchased a couple of books, Confessions, by Augustine, being the one I wished to start with. As a young and green youth minister, it didn’t take me long to…
Invest In Your Spirit
In a world that is inundated with the clanging noise of daily life, it can be easy to overlook the most important aspect of our being: our spirit. In the midst of the chaos, investing in our spiritual formation and well-being often takes a backseat. However, just as we invest in wisdom and in our…
The Need For Community
By nature, I am an introvert. Some may find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I am most inclined to withdraw into myself and avoid connections. It is only through years of practice that I have learned how to engage with others in meaningful and beneficial ways. I have learned to express myself as…
Invest In Health
Last year, I identified four areas in which we should invest in our lives, especially as leaders. The first area I identified was wisdom, which is the ability to gain knowledge, and then put it into practice. The second area where we should make an investment is into our health. [featured-image single_newwindow=”false” alt=”Invest In Health”]…
Worry versus Trust: What Wins?
Worry is something I have long struggled with. I’m a worrier, although I may call it “concern” or “attention” or “caution” or something similar. Whatever I might name it, it needs to be addressed in my life, and Jesus gives us some direct and pointed insights on the topic. [featured-image single_newwindow=”false” alt=”Worry versus Trust: What…