All Blog Posts (126)

There is a feeling in the pit of me

that knows earth is home of the enemy

no corner of this place

or any amount of open space

can fully satisfy the craving

because this place is not my home

as long as the devil is free to roam

he is prince of the earth

and wants to spare no hearse

he wants every heart to turn to stone

and envies my God on the throne

it makes him sick to know I'm saved

spared from the eternal…

Growing up, I knew I had the perfect Mom.  She was endlessly supportive of me and my creative pursuits.    She read to me and my younger sister consistently and then when we were old enough, made sure we had library cards.  She loved reading so we loved to read.  She always made sure our friends were welcome.  There was always something in the oven or on the stove.  Birthdays were celebrated.  She taught Sunday school, drove us to piano lessons, dance lessons and even…

The Pulse Arts Conference is a 24 hour arts and worship conference designed to help you connect your passion for arts with your heart for God.  This event is hosted at Blackhawk Church.  You will be encouraged, equipped and challenged. Whether you’re a worship leader, musician, actor, technician, video producer, dancer or visual artist, we’ll explore how your art form can point others to God.  I've heard Josh Garrels…

A few weeks ago, someone disappointed me - profoundly.  I was hurt.  I was angry.  I was disillusioned and for a few days, I didn't want to trust anyone.  Other things joined in before God was done with me and then I did the unthinkable - I asked for forgiveness.  I apologized.  My pride stepped aside and my humility moved in.  I said I was sorry about how I reacted.  My friend said I hadn't done anything wrong but in my heart, I knew that my sin wasn't against him - but against God - for…

One of America's favorite movies of all time, Steven Spielberg's E.T. - the Extra Terrestrial, was a box office smash in 1982.  The boy and the alien became close friends as they learned to trust one another, became true friends and protected each other even as E.T. had to move on to his real home.  Neil Diamond's song to show the unique bond between the boy and home was called…

I remember the day my Mom found the tumor.  I was laying on her lap in the bedroom I shared with my sister.  We were sitting on the new twin beds my father and mother had argued about buying.  She was happy with her purchase and he wasn't but we finally had new beds after years of ones that others had discarded.  

I was laying on the bed with my head in my mother's lap and she was running her fingers through my hair.  Her hand stopped around my eye and I think she even said the words,…

Not so long ago during staff devotions, we were to plan ahead for the next week in thinking about "What does prayer mean to you?" Wanna know my first thought?

Home.

That’s a surprise!  Normally, I would have answered communicating with God or listening or something like that.  So…I’ve let “home” cook and I’ve asked God more about this.  He gave me a poem, of sorts...…

So I recently picked up a book again that I haven't read in over a year.  I have a tendency to read books more than once, especially spaced out over time so I can tell how my life has changed based on how different things in the book might strike me that never did before.

So, I picked up Joan C. Webb's The Relief of Imperfection again.  One exercise is to go through different areas of daily life (for example, your body and emotions, your church life, your career, your…

A couple months ago, I was really sick with a kidney thing. I'm ok now, but it hit out of the blue and I was toast. So, besides feeling totally gross and full of an unstoppable fever, I also needed answers from others...and very real help.

That's when it struck me how very meaningful kindness is. I needed help, but noticed that "how the help" was offered was equally meaningful, if…

A Nyquil Hangover and a Ball of Metal

I was walking along a Street in my neighborhood earlier this week when I came upon it. It was one of those days. I was slightly hungover from the Nyquil I had the night before and the Sudafed…

Last Friday night my wife and I went out for a fish fry with several Christian friends and as usual the wives sat on one end of the table discussing women things and the men sat on the other talking sports and politics.  After finishing discussions on how, if we were in charge, the Brewers and Badgers would be better we turned to politics since we were just coming off the national conventions.  Being a group of conservative Christian men it didn’t take long before the subject of the…

So, I guess I did write a blog on here about my Italy experience... I haven't been on this site for so long that I'd forgotten!  So I likely mentioned that I had an unplanned semester off from college, in which I had a lot of time to journal.  Well, I recently went back home to NH for my wedding, and while in my parents' house I found the journal that I'd kept during that time.  I took it with me back to Madison because I thought maybe I could go back and see those revelations I had about…

Well, I graduated college a year and some change ago.  Having been out in the "real world" for that length of time, looking at college students I know and back on the days when I used to await my graduation, I can see how my perspectives have changed in dramatic ways.  I face different struggles, different joys, different worries and concerns, different activities, different people--and so my thinking needs to change.

I used to be a fan of Kelly Clarkson's famous song "Breakaway",…

A Gideon friend of mine sent this out to our Gideon Camp.  Evidently is was  posted on a church wall in Africa. No one is sure who the author is but it’s pretty powerful and humbling at the same time.  Great for a reality check. 

My Commitment as A Christian

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…

But as for me and my household, we will serve…

Years ago, there was a man who came into my office to sell me radio advertising.  He was tall and handsome - model perfect really.  I remember that some of the people in the office said "He's just a poser."  Maybe they were jealous of his good looks or style or maybe there was a lack of substance underneath but either way, the word has stayed with me.

I read an article by Mark Buchanan in Leadership…

Does the word “paraphrase” sound like fingernails on a chalk board to you?

If you cringe when you think about the Bible being rendered into a thought-for-thought paraphrase, then I want to toss out some thoughts about why a paraphrase is sometimes the best translation.

First, let me say that we love word-for-word accurate translations. We need them. Unless you’re fluent with Greek and Hebrew, it’s the only way to build rock-solid reliable theology. ESV, NASB, KJV or whatever…

Have you ever heard of Bob Goff? I met him today and he's really quite extraordinary. If you met Bob, you would like him instantly because he's just that kind of man. He's also the founder of Restore International, a non-profit fighting injustices committed against children in Uganda and India. He's an attorney in D.C. and the Honorary Counsel for the Republic of Uganda to the U.S. Bob was the first attorney in Uganda to try and convict a witch doctor of atrocities committed against children…