At Living Word, we celebrate every time someone is baptized. Some people wonder, “Why make such a big deal about it? Isn’t Baptism just a personal, private moment between me and God?” Simple answer: Baptism is never just private. It’s always communal. It’s always family. This is why I rarely, if ever, will do a private baptism…
If you’ve ever tried to read through Leviticus, you know it’s not exactly beach reading. It’s full of laws, sacrifices, and instructions that make our head spin. But buried in all of that detail is something powerful that points straight to waters of Baptism. The priests of Israel had one job above all others: bring…
Yesterday at Living Word we opened our new series Washed, and we started with a simple but courageous truth: Baptism is not about what we do for God. It’s about what God does for us. That’s bold, and it cuts against the grain of how we usually think. We live in a world that says “prove yourself, earn…
Vacations are supposed to be about rest and fun, but they have a funny way of teaching you life lessons, too. On my recent getaway, God reminded me of a few things, some lighthearted and some challenging, that I think are worth sharing. 1. There’s always someone less fit than you, so stop hiding from…
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…
