Skip to main content

Popular posts from this blog

Making Disciples

Sunday evening I arrived home following a fruitful (and a bit tiring) Annual Conference. Joe represented our churches in a professional and prayerful manner.  Thanks Joe for your hard work and dedication!  This year's legislation passed without much conversation, which means that very few resolutions and petitions were of divisive subjects. Instead of turning into a weekend best described as polarizing and political, this year's Annual Conference was primarily peaceful and attentive to worship.  You might ask the question, "Did you accomplish anything this year?" And to be honest, I'm not sure how to answer that question.  Was there helpful legislation?  Yes.  Will the legislation turn into action? Maybe. Hopefully. Will that action result in vital churches and the making of disciples?  Hmm... The mission of the United Methodist Church (and thus the mission of the three local churches I serve) is to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transform...

May 2026 Pastoral Letter

  Dear Lakeside,                       As we are concluding our seventh year together, I thought the time was right to send a pastoral letter for the purposes of updating you on some important work we’ve been accomplishing. Before I dive in, however, allow me the opportunity to share my deep gratitude and appreciation for you. It’s been a joy to serve as your Senior Pastor. We’ve had a front row seat to God’s faithfulness and provision. We’ve launched new ministries, welcomed new members and currently average well over 200 people in worship. Praise God! It is such an honor to serve Jesus with you!                    One of our goals in 2025 was to clarify our church culture and align our teams around a shared set of values to help navigate the changes that come with a growing church. In the...

The Story- No Ordinary Man

No Ordinary Man        March 10 and 11, 2016 Scripture: Mark 5: 1-20             There’s a phenomenal story about Jesus in the Gospels that leaves his followers quite speechless. It would probably leave us speechless as well, maybe even a bit scared, but it’s an important story to know. Jesus and his disciples are on a boat when a storm whips up. With the wind howling and the waves crashing, the disciples run around trying to preserve their ship and save their lives, but astonishingly, Jesus is fast asleep. He must be the type of guy who can sleep through anything, even disturbing, life-threatening storms. Except this storm doesn’t seem to phase him. It phases every other person, but it does not phase him. When they finally get him awake, Jesus calmly walks to the upper level of the boat and tells the storm to calm down…and it does. The waves grow smaller, the wind dies down a...