Most Christians don’t struggle with saying Jesus is Lord. We just struggle with living like He is. Sure, we trust Him with our eternity. We trust Him with our sins. But when it comes to the everyday stuff like the calendar, the bank account, the retirement plan suddenly the throne of our lives gets very crowded. Let’s be…
It’s no secret, giving can be hard. Sometimes it feels like kale. We know it’s good for us, but we’re not exactly craving it. And yet, generosity is central to what it means to follow Jesus. The problem? Most American Christians give like they eat kale, occasionally, reluctantly, and only when someone guilts them into…
(Part 4 of 4 in the “Performing or Belonging?” series) Here’s the truth we keep forgetting: Grace breaks the performance cycle.Not self-help. Not good vibes. Not “trying harder.”Grace. You can’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. And you can’t fake your way into it. That’s why it changes everything. Because for all our pretending, performing,…
(Part 3 of 4 in the “Performing or Belonging?” series) We were made for connection.Not Wi-Fi. Not group texts. Not “likes.”Real connection. The kind where someone sees you, hears you, and stays. But let’s be honest: that’s rare. And that rarity is saddening. Most of us walk through life surrounded by people but are suffocating from…
I stand behind pulpits and podiums,smile through scripture, break bread with the broken,but behind the suit and dress shirtmy heart is cracked glass. See, they say, “Pastor, it’s part of the job,”like grief is a line in my call papers.Like funerals come with the welcome packet.Like burying saints is just part of the benefits package.But…
While at the gathering we’ve been treated to original poems by Tanner Olson. Here’s my crack at a written to speak style poem summarizing last night’s event. Remember it’s written to speak which means you kind of need to read it aloud to get the rhythm to it. I didn’t earn this place.Didn’t climb enough…
(Part 2 of 4 in the “Performing or Belonging?” series) Let’s be honest, most of us are addicted to approval. We don’t call it that. We call it being “driven,” “motivated,” “on our game.” But underneath the hustle is a hunger: Please notice me. Please like me. Please tell me I’m enough. And if you think…
Inspired by Night 2 of the LCMS Youth Gathering & Hebrews 12:1–3 Some moments stay with you. For many who gathered on Night 2 of the LCMS Youth Gathering, there was a phrase that echoed through the arena and hit deep into the soul: “I am that joy.” “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter…
There’s a reason the theme of this year’s Youth Gathering echoes loud and clear: Endure. We live in a world where it’s easy to quit. Quit trying. Quit believing. Quit showing up. Life throws curveballs, culture applies pressure, and sometimes it feels like we’re barely holding on. But Hebrews gives us a different word. One that…
Ever feel like you’re drowning in noise. Not just the sound of traffic or your neighbor’s dog or the 37th autoplay video on Instagram. I’m talking about the kind of noise that sits in your brain even when it’s quiet. The constant scroll, the endless to-do list, the pressure to keep up, to stay informed, to…
