“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1–3) I’m about to take two weeks of vacation, which means that, for the next little while, I will not be answering emails, writing sermons, checking the church calendar, or wondering whether I’ve forgotten something important. At least, that’s the plan. I’m also aware that taking vacation is one thing. Actually resting while on vacation is something else entirely. I’m good at being away. I’m less good at stopping. There is always … Read more

“So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:29–31) I’ve been trying recently to set up a defined “office” space at home. It shouldn’t be a problem, right? Hugh and I are empty nesters in a three-bedroom family home. The kids have been grown and gone for quite a while. Well, … Read more

“Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.”(Genesis 32:30–31) Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart. There are so many moments that I remember with the distinct feeling that I was making it up as I went along and really wishing that children came with an instruction booklet. Something practical. Something like: When your toddler asks this particular question in this particular tone, do this. But no. Apparently, we’re all just handed tiny humans and … Read more

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”( Matthew 13:31–33) Yesterday, while I was at Giant Tiger, I watched a young mom with a baby in tow and a … Read more

 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!”  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28: 16,17)  Jacob is having a terrible week. Not the sort of week fixed by a long walk, a takeaway, or a polite email saying, “Let’s put this behind us.” This is the kind of week that makes a person consider changing his name, burning the evidence, and catching the first cart out of … Read more

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) When life starts getting a little harder and more complicated, I have this go-to place of mild panic. And when I slip into mild panic mode, I get…well,a titch more controlling. I like order. I like predictability. Not that I’m necessarily rigid (at least … Read more

“Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life… For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” — Romans 6:13–14 About once a year, someone I’ve never met phones the church and asks if I will baptize their baby. Sometimes it’s a parent. More often it’s a grandparent. I’ve come to love these conversations because they are almost never really about baptism. They’re about love. Someone loves this child so fiercely that they want to be absolutely certain they’ve done everything they can to make sure … Read more

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39) While I was away on Restorative Care, I spent some time reading Dr. Daniel J. Levitin’s book, Successful Aging. Levitin is a neuroscientist who argues that old age should not be seen as a period of inevitable decline, but as a unique stage of growth, contribution, and possibility. He suggests that successful aging is less about extending our lifespan and more about extending our “healthspan”—the years in which we remain engaged, curious, connected, and purposeful. He introduces what … Read more

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) Happy Pride Month, Bethel. This week I posted a picture on Facebook of our Bethel sign with a rainbow flag flying beneath it. It was a simple picture, really. A church sign. A rainbow flag. A public declaration that our welcome is not vague, not private, and not conditional. And apparently that was enough to make some people furious. The comments came quickly. Some were threatening. Some were … Read more

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28: 16-20)  When I was … Read more