Oct 1, 2021The Shared LifeWhat I learned walking in the mountains with my wife. — It has been a heck of a year and a half. I’m sure that most people could say the same thing. And due to that shared sense of stress and anxiety, we could all use a break. Patience and I certainly recognized this need and so last month we set…Travel5 min readTravel5 min read
Sep 10, 20214 Conversations with HenryReflecting on the impact of Henry Loftin — I remember the first conversation I had with Henry Loftin. The year was 2010, I was 15 years old, and the location was Pacesetters leadership camp. Prior to that week, I had no experience with Henry, Glowing Heart, or Pacesetters. …8 min read8 min read
Aug 14, 2021Loveless Christianity?When I started out in ministry, I didn’t really love people. I should probably explain that statement. By default, I was and to some extent still am an introvert. I liked people, but being around them and getting involved was not my default mode of operation. Despite this, I knew…Church7 min readChurch7 min read
Jul 31, 2021A Pointless ChurchPart 3 of The Local Project — Last week, I drove to meet a friend for dinner. In that shopping center, the huge storefront of what was once a Bed Bath and Beyond stood empty and the signs were gone. As long as I can remember living in Arlington, this shopping center had that BBB and a…Church Leadership5 min readChurch Leadership5 min read
Jul 18, 2021What’s the purpose of the Local Church?Part 2 of The Local Project — (Note: This is the next part in my research project on the nature of the Local Church. For a brief introduction, check out part 1 here.) In the summer of 2020, I interviewed 30 pastors, ministry leaders, seminary professors, and lay leaders on the nature, purpose, and future of the…Church5 min readChurch5 min read
Jul 10, 2021Bones, Armies, and PacesettersSpeaking at the camp you got saved at is a surreal experience. I never expected to have this opportunity and when it was postponed due to 2020, I half wondered if I ever would. Yet, there I was at Pacesetters 2021, praying and preparing myself to speak on at the…Ministry8 min readMinistry8 min read
Jul 3, 20215 Building Blocks to Start a College Ministry“If you’re looking for a place to serve, we could really use a college ministry.” I wasn’t expecting to hear these words from the then associate pastor of my home church. I’d met with him for lunch to talk about where I could best “plug in” at the church after…College Ministry8 min readCollege Ministry8 min read
Mar 2, 2021“Local” Church — Why do this?“The church is not only a vehicle of salvation; it is also an embodiment of that salvation itself.” — Evan Howard It was the summer of 2020 and all my plans had been canceled. Going into the year, I had a lot of high hopes and big plans in place…Church5 min readChurch5 min read
Jan 26, 2021The Spirit — Cont.Note: The following is an adaptation of a research paper I wrote during the pursuit of my Master’s Degree at Criswell College in 2019. “Don’t stifle the Spirit.” This four word command from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 is deceptively difficult to obey in churches today. Other translations such as the ESV…Theology18 min readTheology18 min read
Jan 6, 2021UnfinishedOn my desktop sits a folder titled “Writing.” It contains outlines, ideas, drafts, stories, and essays. The vast majority of these text documents are unfinished. Projects begun in earnest that have since sat idly by for years (in some cases, over 10 at this point). To be sure, many of…2 min read2 min read
