Heartwired
Life is often shaped by circumstances beyond our control. As I write, Wibke and my two older boys, Alec, and Jonas are arriving back from my in-law's home in the Black Forest...
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My Father's World
With the My Father's World teaching series I've attempted to lay a foundation for...
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Ears2Hear:
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is...
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Ears2Hear: Ephesus
Last weekend we began a series examining the letters sent to the seven churches in Asia, recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The first church addressed was Ephesus. With so much ground to cover,...
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Leading from the Second Chair (Part 2)
Warning: long post ahead. It’s not easy covering a book in a sermon. You may want to download...
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Leading from the Second Chair (Part 1)
This is the first of two blogs I will post before my next message in the Embracing Exile series on...
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Spiritual Medic
Last Sunday we started a new series entitled, Embracing Exile, a series designed to help and equip...
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Celebrating
The Water's Edge Network was started by Central Wesleyan Church of Holland, Michigan in 2016....
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A Church Scattered: Easter 2020
Church Family It’s hard to believe that we’ve started our journey toward Easter. If someone would have told me that I would spend Palm Sunday in worship from my home, not able to...
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Who is in your corner?
At the end of our monthly Water's Edge Network meetings we ask our network team what they've...
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Led to Worship by Who?
Led to Worship by Who? Matthew 2:1-8 In our morning devotion yesterday, Pastor Steve...
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The Supremacy of Christ
I write this from Indonesia. I’ve accompanied two members of our Water’s Edge Network staff, Kory Cassell and Micah Kephart, to finalize some exciting things happening in our ministry in...
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When Things Get Toxic
This weekend we begin a new series entitled, “When Things Get Toxic.” Steve and I are...
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Impact through Relational Networks
Yesterday we took our first dive into some of the realities we need to grapple with if our ministry is to thrive in the emerging America. As I’ve said countless times recently, I am very mindful...
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One Anothering One Another
This weekend we begin a new series entitled Summer of Love, where we’ll examine the “one...
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The End of the Beginning
June 1 saw us start another church year at Central. It’s hard to believe that I am now...
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I'm Fed Up
I am fed up! I’m fed up of seeing people, who’ve battled life-long hurts, habits, and hang-ups, believe the lie that things can never change. I’m fed up with the accuser’s...
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Virtual Reality | Day 29
Reproducing Christian leaders lay themselves down in service of others in accordance with...
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Virtual Reality | Day 28
Reproducing Christian leaders lay themselves down in service of others in accordance with...
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Virtual Reality | Day 27
Reproducing Christian leaders lay themselves down in service of others in accordance with God’s plans to spread the good news (2 Tim. 2:2) Yesterday, I suggested that the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 26
Reproducing Christian leaders lay themselves down in service of others in accordance with...
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Virtual Reality | Day 25
Reproducing Christian leaders lay themselves down in service of others in accordance with...
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Virtual Reality | Day 24
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the truth and the way (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When virtues go wrong, when the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 23
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 22
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 21
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the truth and the way (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Having examined Paul’s desire that...
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Virtual Reality | Day 19
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 20
Living Christian leaders love people enough to supplement telling the truth with showing them the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 18
The Caution for a Christian Leader But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant,...
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Virtual Reality | Day 17
Summary: When virtues go wrong, when the mind and heart harden to the work of the Spirit, leaders...
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Virtual Reality | Day 16
Being Christian leaders have entered a new settled state and become more like the Christ they...
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Virtual Reality | Day 15
Being Christian leaders have entered a new settled state and become more like the Christ they know, love, and serve (2 Tim. 3:2-5) We’re working through the second quadrant:...
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Virtual Reality | Day 14
Being Christian leaders have entered a new settled state and become more like the Christ they...
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Virtual Reality | Day 13
Summary: When virtues go wrong, when the mind and heart harden to the work of the...
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Virtual Reality | Day 12
Knowing Christian leaders know they belong to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 1:5; 3:14) Over the last two days I’ve developed the truth that we belong...
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Virtual Reality Day 10
Knowing Christian leaders know they belong to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (2nd...
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Virtual Reality | Day 7
Big Idea The Christian leader’s lifestyle is based upon an inner character of the heart,...
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Virtual Reality | Day 6
Big Idea The Christian leader’s lifestyle is based upon an inner character of the heart, enabled by the Holy Spirit, that causes them to behave in certain ways. This temperament is part of...
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Virtual Reality | Day 5
Big Idea The Christian leader’s lifestyle is based upon an inner character of the heart,...
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Virtual Reality | Day 4
Big Idea The Christian leader’s lifestyle is based upon an inner disposition of the heart,...
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Virtual Reality | Day 3
At the end of one’s life, it is natural to want to wrap up loose ends. In a sense, for Paul, one loose end was his young protégé in ministry, Timothy. Years earlier Paul had left...
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Virtual Reality | Day 2
Big Idea The Christian leader’s lifestyle is based upon an inner disposition of the heart,...
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Virtual Reality | Day 1
In, Reflections on Christian Leadership, Henri Nouwen addresses a number of challenges facing...
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Called Together | Part II
If you haven’t had a chance to read part I of this blog you can find it here. The Struggle for Community If you accept the challenge of being called to come together, and I’m hoping...
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Called Together | Part I
The word the Bible uses for church, ekklesia, means “called out ones.” The church...
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Waiting in the Wasteland: Past + Present
Through the month of August, we’ve journeyed through the Old Testament book of Joel. We...
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New Series This Sunday: Wisdom in the Wasteland
This weekend we start a four-part series entitled, Wisdom in the Wasteland. It’s a journey through the Old Testament book of Joel. I’ve been behind the pulpit of a church for well...
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Many Reasons to Praise
This Sunday I continue our Ancient Mind, Modern Heart series with a message from Psalm 67 entitled,...
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Member Vote
This weekend members of Central will be asked to vote on two questions. The first question...
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We Are All Sent
When God called me, He didn’t just call me to be a pastor, He called me to be a missionary. He called me to leave my homeland and venture to another land. It’s pretty clear that God...
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The Limitations of Knowledge. The Power of Love.
Quite a few people have offered to take me clay pigeon shooting over the last few days. Not sure...
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Mud, Sweat & Tears
Since Sunday, I’ve been approached by some and received emails from others about my message,...
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Big News From the Water's Edge Network
Over the last 3 years, Central Wesleyan Church, the church I am privileged to lead, has undergone a seismic transformation. The transition from one church in one place to a family of churches working...
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Fit for Mission
This Sunday we launch our six-week journey through the book of Acts. Pastor Steve and I are so...
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Forever Overcome
These last few weeks I have been leaning into two Scriptures. The first is Colossians 3:16...
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The Missing Middle of Reconciliation
Yesterday we began our Fall series, “All Due Respect: When My Views Clash With Yours,” focusing on the pathway to peace. We felt the need to remind ourselves that a nation committed to...
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Culture & Conflict
This Sunday Pastor Steve and I kick off our fall series, “With All Due Respect: When my Views...
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A Fabulous Fall
With summer slowly drawing to a close we’re turning attention to the start of school and to...
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Let’s keep Rolling!
This morning all four of my ‘at home’ children went to school! It seems like yesterday that they were out for the summer. Now we’re quickly heading in to fall. As the old saying...
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What a Difference 1 Year Can Make
Over the last week, my social media feeds have reminded me what I was doing this time last year. It...
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Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy and Joy!
In my quiet time this morning I read Nehemiah chapter 12. Verse 43 jumped out at me: “And on...
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Holly's Hope is all Our Hope
On Easter Sunday I shared how believing in Jesus’ resurrection acknowledges that the power of death is something we experience while we live. I suggested that Jesus didn’t die...
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Impoverished
Yesterday, we began our Lenten series, Impoverished, with the challenge to change the way we see the...
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God at Work
I live with a nagging doubt that my contribution to the Kingdom isn’t as significant as it...
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Think Local. Act Global.
Central’s multi-site strategy embraces what I’ve referred to as ‘the metanational mentality.’ The phrase ‘metanational’ was burned in my heart back in the early...
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Kingdom-minded Churches
At Central we avidly seek to be a Kingdom-driven church. Such a church has a clear understanding of...
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Christmas United
Central’s planning for the holiday season begins soon after Easter. Discerning what God wants...
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Why Multisite?
Yesterday Pastor Mike and I were in Grand Rapids with Pastors Toran and Jordan assessing an opportunity. Easter Sunday witnesses the launch of our sixth campus. This is possible because of the...
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When the Real Meets the Ideal
Last Sunday Brad did an outstanding job addressing the line in Songs 2:7: “Do not arouse or...
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When the Real Meets the Ideal
Last Sunday Brad did an outstanding job addressing the line in Songs 2:7: “Do not arouse or...
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In Body and Being Beautiful
As I write I am sitting in Basel Airport awaiting the first of three flights home. Wibke and I arrive home this evening and it’s back to work tomorrow where preparations for the weekend will...
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Today Wibke and I managed to retrace a few steps from the early years of our marriage. The first few...
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Carefully Examine
Its been a crazy week. With a shorter working week last week, Central's Fall Launch, a two...
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Song of Songs and the Single
I'm fairly sure that a few single folks reading this blog over the last two days have wondered what they are going to get out of a series on human love? So my task in today’s blog is...
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The Book of Human Love (2)
Why was Song of Songs included in the Bible? The simple answer to that question is that it...
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The Book on Human Love
This Sunday witnesses the start of an exciting fall season at Central. This week the stage is being...
Read MoreThe Power of One
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper...
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An Exciting Future Worth The Sacrifice
What an amazing weekend we just experienced at Central. My personal thanks go out to Sheila Walsh...
Read MoreHappy Christmas
Just wishing everyone a very merry Christmas from my family to yours. This year I am privileged...
Read MoreFrom Back to Front
This weekend our exploration of the refugee reality that underpins the nativity story will come to a close. What a weekend awaits us. Our Refugee Christmas Experience (Saturday @19.00h and Sunday @...
Read MoreRefugee Q and A (3)
Here’s the third q and a. Two questions this time (hopefully we have covered what we need...
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Refugee Q and A (2)
Last time I shared answers to two questions Brad and I have been asked since we started our...
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Kingdom and Empires: The Missing Middle (part 2)
Yesterday I uploaded part 1 of last Sunday’s message. Here’s part two … Time...
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Kingdom and Empires: The Missing Middle (#1)
Last Sunday we began a series at Central entitled, “Kingdom and Empires.” The series will run for seven weeks. We kicked off with a title borrowed from a phrase in N.T. Wright’s...
Read MoreThought #3: Rethink, Restructure, Retool
On Friday the Supreme Court voted to impose their definition of marriage on all states –...
Read MoreThought #2: Talking is not Walking!
On Friday the Supreme Court voted to impose their definition of marriage on all states –...
Read MoreWhat’s the Harm? What’s the Lesson?
Yesterday the Supreme Court voted to impose their definition of marriage on all states – replacing a definition that has stood, by its own admission, ‘for millennia’. I am a firm...
Read MoreShepherding the Flock
Last Thursday I shared a message with small group and short circle leaders at our church. A number...
Read MoreThank You and Farewell
Today I had the bitter-sweat experience of saying goodbye to my faith family at South Tampa...
Read MoreWhen Food and Clothes aren’t Enough…
In 1st Timothy chapter 6, Paul writes: “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for...
Read MoreLoving Africa, Literally
I have reached the end of my first day here in Kabwe, Zambia. I am in Zambia for 3 days teaching and...
Read MoreLook Alikes
This morning I walked out of my office and headed towards Frank’s office. Frank is our...
Read MorePersecuted but Blessed …
Yesterday I shared how the passion of the believers has both inspired and challenged me. This...
Read MorePassionate and Persecuted
Friday saw me spend the entire day teaching in the seminary. I started at 8 and finished just after 4:15 with an hour for lunch. At 5 Kelly and I had dinner with the church planters from Borneo, our...
Read MoreThe Other Side
I am sitting in Minneapolis airport about an hour away from my flight to Singapore. After a 5 hour...
Read MoreImitators of God
I’ve been teaching my way through Ephesians and I’ve reached Ephesians 5:1-2: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us...
Read MoreBlessing God
To love God is the greatest of virtues; to be loved by God the greatest of...
Read MoreLetting God …
I’ve been teaching my way through 1st Peter and just finished chapter 5. I was particularly...
Read MoreI went to bed this morning and woke after a few hours….
I went to bed this morning and woke after a few hours sleep to a reality that has gripped me for the near five years that I have been privileged to call America my home. This great country is sharply...
Read MoreThank’s for the reminder, Lord.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every...
Read MoreShortly before my father died I visited him in the hospital in Wales
Shortly before my father died I visited him in the hospital in Wales. He’d been in the...
Read MoreMugs and Grace
So, here I am. Alone. I’m sitting in an airport lounge in Singapore awaiting my connecting flight to Indonesia. Kelly Green, my travelling companion, friend and incredible missions pastor,...
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