• Learning to Discern Criticism in Ministry

    Every pastor hears criticism. Some of it is true. Some of it is preference. Some of it is simply noise. The challenge isn’t avoiding criticism—it’s learning to discern which voices deserve your attention and which ones belong at the feet of Jesus in prayer.

  • A Word for Small Church Pastors

    Comparison can quietly poison a pastor’s soul. Here’s why faithfulness matters more than attendance, and why small churches still terrify hell.

  • My Favorite Albums of the First Half of 2026

    From Switchfoot and Earthsuit to Propaganda, Emma Nissen, Jonathan Ogden, and some hidden gems, these are my favorite albums and singles of 2026 so far.

  • The Problem with Copy and Paste Churches

    Successful ministry cannot simply be copied from one church to another. God’s wisdom takes different shapes in different communities, and faithful leadership begins by discovering how Jesus wants to move through the people and place he has entrusted to you.

  • Pastoring as the Person You Are | Why Authentic Ministry Matters

    Pastors imitate celebrity preachers more often than we’d like to admit. We borrow voices, styles, and personalities in hopes of becoming more effective. But ministry flourishes when we stop being echoes and begin leading from the unique image of God within us.

  • The Image of God: You as Living Selem, Not Copy or Clone

    Humanity is not a mass-produced reflection of God but a living, breathing image—crafted from dust and animated with purpose. The biblical idea of the selem reframes identity, mission, and spiritual formation as deeply personal, creative, and diverse participation in the life of God.

  • Ananias, Sapphira, and the Death of Utopia

    The first Christian community looked like a utopia. America’s founding ideals aimed at liberty and justice. Yet every human system, no matter how beautiful, can be corrupted by Sin. Our hope has never been in perfect systems—it has always been in Jesus.

  • The Last Exchange: A Mythic Parable

    An original allegorical story about two warring nations that stumble their way into a new story.

  • The Gospel According to Checkers the Hedgehog

    Sonic the Hedgehog shaped more of my childhood than I ever realized. Years later, God used a childhood hero to remind me that he hadn’t forgotten the little boy who first imagined adventure, courage, and hope.

  • A Love Letter, Not Just a Birthday Card: Why Personal Worship Matters

    Worship isn’t less God-centered because it includes your story. In fact, Scripture suggests the opposite. Like a love letter, the deepest worship flows from personal encounter, not merely factual statements.