No one enjoys being tested. Whether it's an exam in school, a difficult season at work, or an unexpected trial in life, testing is rarely something we welcome. Yet James begins his letter with a surprising command: "Count it all joy... when you meet trials of various kinds" (James 1:2).James is not saying that suffering is enjoyable. Rather, he calls believers to rejoice because of what God is acc...  Read More

Dave and I just returned from a trip to Florida. While traveling by car, I kept thinking about creation.We saw so many different shades of green. There was light green, dark green, yellow-green, gray-green, blue-green, and dozens, if not hundreds, of other shades of green. Then there were the flowers and flowering plants in countless beautiful colors. In addition to that, we saw the blues, greens,...  Read More

As you may know, I am about to depart on a three month sabbatical from ministry. After seven years of replanting Heartland Church I am definitely ready for an extended period of rest. As I prepare to leave, I find myself very contemplative regarding the necessity of rest and how it is critical in seeing the heart refocused on Jesus. I would love for you to join me in thinking about this for your l...  Read More

Have you ever had something on your heart and shared it with a friend in hopes that they were listening? Sure, they heard what you said and they could repeat back what was said, but were they really listening to your heart?Being a musician, I can’t express the importance of listening. Listening to notes and rhythms, and seeing how they fit into the ethos of a song.Ok, so maybe those aren’t the bes...  Read More

“Shrink it.” Not something you hear too often. You definitely don’t want to hear it in regards to laundry. You might, however, hear it from a villain in a children's television show or in the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. No, we typically want things bigger and better. We have phrases like “larger than life” or “everything is bigger in Texas.” Even Disney, in the movie WALL·E, names the spaceshi...  Read More

When I sat down to write this post, I honestly didn’t know where to start. I kept racking my brain, asking God what direction He wanted me to go. And in the middle of that wrestling, my dad came to mind.My father passed away on March 13, 2021. He was only 56.Even now, thinking about him brings a mix of emotions — the happy memories that make me smile, the painful ones that still sting, the moments...  Read More