When I was in high school I was the kid who had enough Christian t-shirts for each day of the week.  I wore them all of the time.  Even back in the early 90′s it was hard to find shirts that weren’t overly Christian but yet had enough imagery to let people know where I stood.  I wasn’t one of [...]

Today I am heading down to Principal Park in Des Moines for the first round of the Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament.  Storm Lake plays at 2pm and a couple of our guys play on the team.  I am looking forward to spending the afternoon down there watching a great game of baseball and exercising the ministry of presence. [...]

I have wanted to hear Laura Story live since the first time I heard the song Indescribable some years ago.  Most people that Chris Tomlin wrote that song but really it was Laura Story.  I’ve always loved her voice.  Tonight as part fo the outreach to those riding in RAGBRAI our local Christian radio station brought her in to do [...]

This past Thursday my dad went to the radiologist to find out what kind of treatment he was going to need.  We just keep getting more bad news after more bad news.  From his first surgery to the 3rd major one in 5 days.  Then the slow healing process and his loss of function of his bladder and the abscesses in his [...]

Today was the first day of Iowa’s greatest bike ride ever – RAGBRAI.  I have never been on RAGBRAI but after tonight I my have to give it a shot for a day or two next year.  More on that in a minute.  RAGBRAI is the Registers Great Bike Race Across Iowa.  It is supported and promoted by the Des [...]

While we were in Brazil we got to have to honor of being at Campo Bom’s first official baptism service as a church.  It was a great time and a moving service.  I was asked to give a challenge to the baptism candidates after the baptisms.  I talked about how we are responsible to grow in God’s Word, love others [...]

When I was in high school our youth group didn’t really have a sense of community.  So often we were at odds with each other and there always seemed to be division or tension.  I was friends with some of the guys and we got along pretty good but still it just never felt like a community.  It felt more like some [...]

When we went to Brazil I was excited for the ministry that our students would have while we were there.  I was anxious to see how it was going to work for them as they worked through translators.  While we were there I preached/ taught 6 different times through the 10 days we were there.  I lead the evening service both [...]

Remember growing up and playing Pacman and Pitfall?  I loved those games.  Last week I was talking to my cousin Kevin last week on Facebook and found out he had an old Atari 2600. I mentioned I would buy it and he shipped it to me for free. Kevin is now my favorite cousin.  Thanks Kevin – this will definitely [...]

I heard this song on the radio the night I was heading back when my dad was having his second surgery.  I couldn’t get it out of my head the whole time I was home.  Every time I heard it I became emotional.  This is a great song and I can finally sing it through without becoming emotional.  I can’t [...]