I write all of this to say that when it boils down to the very bottom, everything does happen for a reason, but it's not the reason we think and project most often. God is not the reason for your disease, our wars, or natural disasters. God is the reason for the goodness that takes place in the midst of all these things.

However, I am stating that when the symbol is a mark of possession and points to Who created you, to Whom you belong, and even to Who holds your family members and calls us into a larger family, that the posture of our heart's tattoo matches the symbol of body's tattoo.

The most impressional aspect to all of this is that five and a half hours in God’s presence felt like thirty minutes total. There was no rushing, there was no competition, there was no performance, there was no numbing out, and there were no walls put up to the Lord’s love or to our time in worship. 

My wife asked me, “What was that one white guy’s name again?” and it caught me off guard in the best way possible. When had we ever said these words following a huge box office movie? When had we ever asked for the name of one of the minority white characters in a superhero film? When had we ever talked through so many prominent themes dealing with theology, politics, and societal systems after watching a Marvel flick?

So from my heart to yours, move forward with courage and assurance. The Light will illuminate the path, remind you of where you are going, calm any storms, and breathe Wind into your sails. You may just find that as you journey ahead that there is more certainty then we can feel or see. 

What if I were to tell you that God doesn’t want to use you? 

What if I were to say that many in the Church only want to be used by God for His glory, but God doesn’t want to use anybody for His glory? 

Now before you stop reading and click back to Facebook, hear me out on this… Please and thank you. 

What’s the best part of giving this seat to the Father? He’s a Father that wants to be with His children. He picks you up and puts you on His lap and empowers you to live from a seat of identity, confidence, peace, and love.

If you were to ask my wife how much she loved Taylor Swift’s new album, I don’t know if there would be a number to describe her adoration of the new songs and rhythms. These melodies are on repeat quite often in our house, and I can’t help but take a listen to the lyrics and music every now and then...

When I was growing up our elementary school made a field trip every year for sixth graders to Camp Simi on Catalina Island. This was a science trip that would include snorkeling, hiking, learning about marine biology, and of course, the infamous maze! This maze was completely dark and if you were brave enough, you could try to make it through the maze by crawling, climbing, and using your senses to the best of your ability...

They used the word ‘agape’ (Ἀγάπη) which takes on the most noble meaning of love in the Greek language and beyond. Agape is called out of ones heart by the preciousness of the object loved. Agape is not kindled by merit or worth of its object, but rather it originates in its own God-given nature. God is Agape.

Have you ever noticed how quickly happiness can come and go? The new car smell fades away, the honeymoon stage passes, hunger comes back after you eat, etc. Happiness is fleeting and all too often we find ourselves consistently giving ourselves to the pursuit of a temporary state that is running faster than we can keep pace with...

There is a prophetic word of the Messiah’s Advent in Isaiah 9:2-7. Within this passage, there is a promise that a child would be born and the government would be upon His shoulders. This child would be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace...

Most of us have heard the passage, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).’” It is a beautiful promise of God’s character to remain faithful and provide the people of God with His plans of hope and a future. However, in the midst of this promise, many do not know the full context of what is happening in this passage...

I find it interesting that in moments of defeat, we don’t think eternally, but rather we look to temporary fixes. We settle for moments of victory that outweigh the moments of losing. We perform harder, push away other things or people, and ultimately, pursue anything to fill the void of the loss that is causing our pain...

I think many are asking questions about certain events happening in our world today. Hurricanes, earthquakes, shootings, tragedies, diseases, divorces, and all kinds of brokenness flood our world. We see the news bombard us with the reality of tragic and heartbreaking events daily. We are left asking many questions that are really important, that are good questions, and that should be asked...

I truly believe that two of the greatest prisons people can experience in life are avoidance and assumption. How often do we find ourselves moving along in life only to find a halt or pause hindering us from something we know we are supposed to be moving forward towards? Largely, I think that many people fall into the traps of avoidance and assumption unwittingly and never try to break free from these cages, ultimately, because they never knew they were in them...

I pray the Sound of the Father that has been sung over from creation would be released in your homes, workplaces, and cities. Let the praises of God's people resound as He is worthy, He is near, and He desires to see all people encounter His love and goodness. Release your sound, beloved. Amen...

In other words, the “Thinker” is ready to spring to action. His thoughts are not passive, his thoughts are not just for himself, his thinking is not just to be a subdued state of self-focus, but rather the “Thinker” is a poet ready to burst forth with prophetic utterance from a deep connection with what he has been thinking about...

We live in a world in which risk is now a part of the major strategies for discovering new ways of business, life, and entertainment. Risking to step out with boldness and courage is the way many have been found as “successful” in today’s world that circles around fame and fortune...

"The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve."