I love surprises ... I think. I haven't been the recipient of too many, but I love giving them -- planning them, all that's involved. Over the weekend I revealed a surprise to our younger daughter Jacque that I couldn't wait to give her. Actually, I did receive a gift earlier this year that totally…
A few weeks ago I was leading worship at our contemporary gathering and we were singing a new(er) song, one by Chris Tomlin called "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)," and I could hardly sing. I was fine with the intro and first verse, but as soon as I hit the second line…
Last year I participated in my second cycling tour. The difference between a tour and a race is that no one takes a tour seriously, at least not the cycling aspect. Races are for the super competitive. A friend of mine who is a cyclist told me about how winners typically finish those 150+ mile races: they…
The focus at our Lent chapel gathering this week was on healing, particularly how we as followers of Jesus can help bring healing to victims living in a broken world. Not wholly innocent victims, mind you. Certainly there are those who've been victimized by others' sin -- we usually refer to this as injustice. But every…
Some nine years ago I sat on a weight bench at the Wolf Creek YMCA in Toledo listening to some new music by Sara Groves. (Has it really been nine years that I've been working out? I really should be in much better shape.) The opening song to her All Right Here is "Less Like Scars,"…
Happy New Year! I pulled up my resolutions post from 2012 to see how I did, and I wasn’t completely disappointed. Allow me to review. A friend of mine gave me a mandolin to use, and I set to work learning some chords. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’ve really…
My creative energy has been sapped lately, which is why I haven't posted here on Mondays in a couple weeks. I spent a few weeks reflecting and crafting my sermon I preached at my church on November 25. I don't think I could ever preach every week like some pastors do. I always need time…
Some ten years ago a friend of mine handed me a burned copy of David Crowder Band's Can You Hear Us? I admit I wasn't too fond of it initially. I assumed they were just another band coming out of the UK and could have sworn Crowder's accent originated across the pond. An accent, yes, but a Texan one.
With this week's artist -- or rather, group of artists -- the worship sound starts to get much younger. Seasoned veterans of worship are displaced by up and comers like Chris Tomlin and David Crowder, among others who at one time or another participated in the Passion Worship Band.
In the fall of 2000, Cindy and I packed up for a weekend and flew to Toledo for an interview with a church regarding their worship position. There were various interviews and interactions with church members -- a well put-together weekend by their executive pastor. Some of these Cindy were involved in, though because we had Jacque (at nine months) with us, she was quite busy herself.
