Billy Graham is Dead. Evangelism Isn’t.

By on February 23, 2018 in America, Church, Culture, Faith, Leadership, Spiritual

This week, we celebrated the passing of a man known affectionately as “America’s pastor”. Billy Graham was one of the most prominent figures of this generation, and I would argue that he bridged the gap between religion, politics and popular culture better than anyone in history. But there are others who would disagree. In fact, a scathing article ran in Rolling Stone calling him a “shameless sycophant” and credited him with “transforming evangelical Christianity into a patriotic corporate entity”. Opinions […]

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Wooden Owls, A Flock of Seagulls and Refusing to Live in Fear

By on February 19, 2018 in Culture, Fear, Hope, Spiritual, Wisdom

There isn’t much to like about seagulls. They’re noisy, obnoxious and invasive. But this weekend, as I found myself wrestling with how to navigate the news, resolve my fears and hold on to joy, a flock of seagulls taught me a fantastic lesson. On Sunday, my wife and I took our four children on an adventure to a neighboring beach community. After a cold weather snap and an above-average flu season, we needed some time out of the house. As […]

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Lent, Valentine’s Day and Giving Up On Perfection

By on February 14, 2018 in Church, Culture, Faith, Marriage

Happy Valentine’s Ash Wednesday… For those of you who chose to give up sugar for Lent this year, I’m afraid you didn’t plan ahead. Look at the bright side, you could smear dark chocolate on your forehead and totally get away with it. For those of you who don’t really celebrate either tradition, I’m with you. I’m Lent free for thirty-five of my thirty-six years. I would be a perfect thirty-six for thirty-six but I dated a Catholic girl in […]

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The Power of Reflection | Rediscovering Who You Are

By on December 30, 2017 in Growth, Leadership, Personal, Purpose, Rest, Wisdom

Regretting the past and reflecting on it are two drastically different things. One is laced with guilt and shame while the other is overflowing with wisdom and hope. You see, the past can give you hope, but you can’t hope in the past. Knowing the difference is essential. For much of my life I was so eager to hit the reset button on another year that I failed to spend time in quiet reflection. But a few years ago, I […]

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God Isn’t Fair | A Reminder About Imperfection at Christmas

By on December 25, 2017 in Christmas, Church, Faith, Spiritual

One of the most powerful things about the Christmas story is that it reminds us that God isn’t fair. For years I overlooked the lineage of Jesus. In haste to meet the baby in the manger, I skipped over the long list of too-difficult-to-pronouce names and jumped right to the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But in doing so, I missed an integral part of the story. Matthew’s account of Jesus’s genealogy, includes an incredible description that, I have never […]

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You Can’t Spell Christmas Without Hope

By on December 23, 2017 in Christmas, Hope

I woke up this morning to the crushing news of the death of a classmate and friend. My heart breaks for his family and those who were close to him. Thirty-five is simply too young to die. And when it hits so close to home, it’s all the more real. In the midst of the pain, you can’t help but ask why. But as I wrestle with my emotions, I’m reminded that reason is a liar. That making sense of it […]

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5 Reasons Why We Need Less Social Media in 2018

By on December 19, 2017 in Culture, Leadership, Personal, Social Media

I get the irony. You’re probably reading this article because you clicked on a link on social media. But let’s set aside the caveats and have an honest conversation. This weekend my wife asked me, “Do you think you’re addicted to social media?” My defense was swift and certain, “It’s not an addiction.” Her question had struck a nerve. This morning, like every morning, I pulled up Facebook. But instead of the standard feed, I was met by a kind […]

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