Previous Posts

Two years ago in a sermon at the PCA General Assembly, I noted that Pastors need to wake up in America as ‘Missionary Pastors’. This is not simply because the prevailing culture is supposedly more hostile to the Gospel, or because growing communities of Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist immigrants are becoming our neighbors, or even because so many people who once counted themselves among the Faithful have now opted out. All of those reasons are valid for cultivating a ‘mission posture’ as a Pastor, but my burden for the phrase extends to the Church itself. Why? Simply put, the Church... Read this post

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul humbly wrote “…pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6) Every weekend Pastors across the world open their mouths to speak, and when they do so congregations will be equal parts shocked, comforted, edified, horrified, gladdened, angered, awakened, and tucked into bed for a brief nap depending on what happens when... Read this post

Beloved Christ Community Members and Friends, Grace and Peace. During last Sunday’s service, I announced that I have accepted a call to be the Senior Pastor at Spanish River Church (PCA) in Boca Raton, Florida. My work at Christ Community will conclude with a final message on March 28th and I will take up my new responsibilities on June 1, after attending to the details necessary to transfer my credentials to the Gulf Stream Presbytery of the PCA. I will be commuting between Franklin and Boca each week for the first year of this new call so that Anna will... Read this post

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the... Read this post

What is Christian Nationalism? It is the identification of a nation-state, race, or political party and its candidates with the Christian Faith or Church in such a way that the two identifies are equated. When this occurs the proper bounds of both are crossed, their unique role is distorted, and their distinctive missions under God are abandoned. In making patriotism, party platform, and candidate support & defense the litmus test of fidelity to Christ, Christian Nationalism not only denies the Faith but also endangers the American Republic. Christian Nationalism does its deceptive work subtly by supplanting Christ as Lord, Savior,... Read this post

Mary’s Song A Poem by Luci Shaw Blue homespun and the bend of my breastkeep warm this small hot naked starfallen to my arms. (Rest …you who have had so farto come.) Now nearness satisfiesthe body of God sweetly. Quiet he lieswhose vigor hurleda universe. He sleepswhose eyelids have not closed before.His breath (so slight it seemsno breath at all) once ruffled the dark deepsto sprout a world.Charmed by doves’ voices, the whisper of straw,he dreams,hearing no music from his other spheres.Breath, mouth, ears, eyeshe is curtailedwho overflowed all skies,all years.Older than eternity, now heis new. Now native to earth... Read this post

What does Advent mean? It means that death, disease, despair, drug addiction, homelessness, murder, hate, war, orphanhood, poverty, hunger, thirst, tears, & grief have an expiration date. These are not the original intention for the world & won’t see the dawn of the new creation. What does Advent mean? It means that dimly burning wicks will not be extinguished; it means that faith, assailed by doubt, will survive, that love assaulted by fear will prevail, that the corridors of power will never be where ultimate justice shall arise & will lie in ruins. What does Advent mean? It means that... Read this post

I love baseball. There is a romance to the game, but as every romance eventually does, it too rips out your heart and laughs at your pain. People unstruck by the romance of baseball don’t get the grief, and I understand that. Those who have been struck always do… and it’s something we share together despite our disparate loyalties to our various teams. I love baseball even though it has not loved me very well in return for most of my life. Yes, one year, in 2016, I was privileged to experience the euphoria of my team winning the final... Read this post

While theologians of all stripes have ceaselessly struggled over the central meaning and message of Ecclesiastes, the variety of topics occurring in somewhat discernable patterns is not in dispute. From the brevity and apparent absurdity of life to work and the leveling experience of death, Qoheleth’s ‘strange and disquieting’ voice has, while confounding sages, also strengthened the faithful in the face of life’s transience and uncertainties. Perhaps commentator Michael V. Fox is right to note these very qualities are the reason that Ecclesiastes is liturgically read on the last day of the Feast of Sukkot, people in temporary dwellings rejoicing... Read this post

June 10, 2020 Beloved Christ Community Members and Friends,Grace and Peace. The extraordinary outpouring of grief, protest, and anger over the murder of George Floyd while being arrested by Officers of the Law in Minnesota has rightly captured the attention of us all. This act of violence followed other notable racially-based killings and led to yet more violence, including the death of an African-American police officer defending people and property from rioters. This is a moment in which we can affirm our Faith, stand shoulder to shoulder for the truth with all who have and continue to suffer from such... Read this post