This week, Allison and I are embarking on a brave, new adventure. This week we will be doing something we have never done before. This week, we are going on vacation with not one, but two children. That’s right, we leave Wednesday for a “relaxing” few days with a three...
It made me laugh last night as I was texting someone from our congregation when they told me that I inspired their family during the sermon yesterday morning and they were going to spend their evening together… watching Thor Ragnarok! While inspiration is the goal of most sermons, I’m not...
On Palm Sunday, the nation of Israel welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their long awaited king. They spread their coats on the ground like a modern-day red carpet and waved palm branches like modern-day foam fingers (ok, that might be a lose translation). They shouted out “Hosanna,” which means God...
Welcome to April! I thought about creating some elaborate April Fools’ joke to write about today but then realized none of you would ever trust anything I ever wrote again! No, it is better to play it safe and not try to trick you today. (Of course, those of you...
As we wrapped up 1 Peter yesterday and look toward Easter, I want to encourage you to join us this coming Sunday as Ben Hildebrand shares with us about the ministry being done in northern France. We can so easily forget about the rest of the world and what God...
As we turn the corner into March this week, we enter into the countdown to Easter! This is by far the biggest Sunday of the year for the Church around the world. Easter, in fact, is the reason we gather week by week on Sundays. Jesus arose on a Sunday...
Dear HBIC Church Family, They say January can be one of the most depressing months of the year. Between the cold, the dark, and the post holiday slump, a lot of people find themselves kind of dragging their feet through January. But have no fear! There are plenty of things...
Like all the windows around our church building, my office window has the blinds built into it. Normally I keep them about halfway open to let light in but not blind me. However, yesterday when we arrived at church the tractor was still here plowing and Allan required me to...
If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.—James 1:5 We are in the middle of our first day of three days of church-wide prayer and fasting. This morning, I was stuck by our...
Pray anyway! That was one friend’s take-a-way from the sermon yesterday. Honestly, that really does sum up our time together well. No matter what you are facing, no matter the doubts you feel, or the uncertainties you are balancing—pray anyway. God hears us and responds! How many times have you...