Today’s post is from my friend and fellow pastor AJ Swoboda who grew up in the same town as me. We spent several years together at the same church and youth group, though neither of us want to share about our time doing a high school church musical together I’m really excited for him to [...]

Recently I spent some time with a local Eastern Orthodox priest who delved into the role of icons during their times of corporate worship. Icons are used in the normal worship practices of many Eastern Orthodox churches. While most evangelical church services spend their times of worship around music, I was intrigued by the use [...]

Being that I’m writing a book on holiness I figured it would be important to read what others who have gone before me have had to say on the subject. While my end goal for someone reading my book might be different than these other writers, it was extremely helpful for me to engage with [...]

One of my favorite songs in high school was Frail by Jars of Clay. It’s a haunting song, but lately it’s the lyrics that have been haunting for me, not the sound. My favorite lyrics have always been the last verse which say: Exposed beyond the shadows You take the cup from me Your dirt [...]

I had to work on New Year’s Day morning a little over a week ago. It was a Sunday this year so we gathered as a church to worship, celebrate Communion, and to be challenged by God’s Word. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how I view church and how important the community of [...]

I love Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 1:14. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. Every Christmas I sense an urge within me toward a response. God [...]