You may be wondering what I consider the MOST important of my theological absolutes. It is my belief that centuries of ignoring a critical command issued by Jesus has led us to where we find ourselves today in America, and beyond. A place where Christian’s proclaim a Gospel of division while behave in ways that are contrary to the heart of the Gospel message proclaimed by Jesus! In Matthew 22:33-40 we witness an interaction between Jesus and the most pious religious leader of His day where we see clearly what He, the very son of God, declared to be the most important of the commandments.   When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” Jesus said , “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first o...

  In my last post I outlined the first three of my immovable theological anchors that guide me as a pastor who is committed to living in the messy middle. I painted the picture of a big tent where those who consider themselves disciples of Christ can live together in healthy, safe, & robust communities that allow for different views, opinions, and even traditions related to secondary doctrines. In this blog I transition to an anchor that I suspect may spark some controversy and/or disagreement. Since clarity is kindness, I believe that it is important to clearly state that I affirm the statement of my home church, East Lake Community Church, which lines up with what is generally held by the global and historic church. I believe that biblical marriage is a covenant union entered into voluntarily between one biological male & one biological woman. Furthermore, all sexual activity outside of marriage goes against God’s best plan for humanity.   I hope you stayed with...

                           Recently I was in a conversation with someone when the inevitable happened. What is the inevitable you ask? In my experience, in discussing what it looks like to live in the messy middle, the inevitable is a question that sounds something like this: “Aren’t you afraid of compromising the truth?” The answer to this is a resounding YES!  Of course I care about the truth as it is declared by the creator I love, adore, and seek to serve.                      I never want to believe anything or stand for any cause that goes against the truth of God. But what I have found in this discussion is that many want to hold to some truths while seemingly ignoring those truths that are less convenient or that aren't in line with their preconceived notions of what the truth is or should be. For instance, many of us love to point to ...

  Some people are meant to write books and blogs while other people are so bogged down with the day to day work of the ministry they never seem to get to share their journey.  For over a decade I have wrestled with wanting to chronicle my particular ministry story, not because I am special or somehow better than anyone else but rather because I believe I am a lot like many others who find themselves wrestling with the inherent tension found between the words of Jesus and much of what we call evangelical or even orthodox Christianity in our world today.  It is my hope that my ministry journey as a seasoned, yet somehow still always green pastor, will help others in their quest to become men & women who live & love like Jesus in a world that teaches us to dominate, belittle, and control those around us. From the very beginning of my call to ministry I have wanted to share the hope that I, a once alcohol, drug, and porn addicted thief, found through the grace, kindne...