Author Archives: asimpleguy

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” -Luke 9:23 This past week, we celebrated Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. It’s always a powerful and meaningful day as we gather together to remember what Christ has done for us. For many, Easter is theContinue reading “Easter Isn’t Over”

There’s something about Good Friday that invites us to slow down…to reflect…and to really consider what took place on the cross. In a world that moves fast and distracts easily, Good Friday calls us to pause and reflect.  Isaiah 53:5 reminds us: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;Continue reading “A Good Friday to Reflect”

As we approach Palm Sunday, we’re reminded of that powerful moment when Jesus entered Jerusalem and everything seemed to be coming together. Crowds gathered, palm branches were laid down, and people shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”  From their perspective, this was the moment they had been waiting for. TheContinue reading “When Our Expectations Don’t Match God’s Plans”

Jesus says in Matthew 13:16, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” In a world where we often think of blindness and deafness as purely physical limitations, Jesus points to something deeper, something spiritual. It’s possible to have perfect eyesight and still not truly see. It’s possible to hear everyContinue reading “To See and Hear”

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” -Romans 8:28-29 The first part of that verse, Romans 8:28, is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. We often repeat it when life feels confusing or painful: “All things work together for good.” But sometimes we misunderstand what that “good” actually is. The very next verse tells us. God’s ultimate purpose for our lives is notContinue reading “God’s Purpose for Our Lives”

A few weeks ago, I took a short retreat to spend time studying, praying, and seeking the Lord for our church. I was blessed with the opportunity to spend those days at the coast. While I was there, I often found myself simply sitting and staring out over the bay. A couple of the daysContinue reading “Anchored in Christ”

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” –Revelation 2:4-5 I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of the Olympics. Besides watching the athletes compete for medals—I love the storiesContinue reading “What’s My Motivation?”

I am currently preaching a series based on the Sermon on the Mount titled the Upside-Down Kingdom. In my sermon this past week I looked at Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:23–24—His command to leave our gift at the altar and first go and be reconciled to our brother or sister. It’s a challenging picture. Before worship.Continue reading “Living at Peace”

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” –John 15:12–13 In this section of scripture, Jesus gives us both a command and a definition of love. And this is not a suggestion, it’s theContinue reading “Transformational Love”

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” –Genesis 50:20 When we read the story of Joseph, we know how it turns out. We know about the palace, the authority, and the reconciliation with his brothers. But Joseph didn’t haveContinue reading “Being Shaped Through Forgiveness”