It’s funny how songs come and go. When I write a song it’s usually based out of some time spent in prayer when I get caught up in praying a phrase over and over. Sometimes it comes from time spent in God’s Word. Last week I kept getting caught on the word holy, worthy and might when I was praying [...]

One of my passions is helping parents understand youth culture and the things that are out there that can be harmful for their students.  I realize that not all parents will agree and each family has their own guidelines for what is allowed and what is not.  That is fine.  However part of my role as a youth pastor is [...]

I’ve been working on a new song for the past couple of days.  It’s at a very rough draft stage but here’s what I’ve got so far.  What are your thoughts or opinions?  What would you change and what would you leave? We Won’t Run Away Key: G Tempo: 90-100 Verse 1: Holy God  you came to earth To rescue [...]

I love movies, music and other forms of media.  I like it so much I used to write reviews, Bible Studies and discussion starters for a website that was geared towards Youth Pastors, leaders, parents and anyone else who cares about teens.  I still have all of my old files.  Movies and music are heavily influencing our culture today.  I [...]

This summer has been crazy busy.  Really everything since April has been on fast forward for me.  In April dad had all of his complications from his first colon cancer surgery.  He ended up being in the hospital over a month.  That all went by so fast with all of the worrying and everything that came with that.  Also in [...]

Once in a while everyone goes through slumps and for the past month and a half I have been in a slump with my blog. However with the new school year coming up I definitely plan on blogging more. I am working on some ideas to involve students from our student ministry with this as well. I need to work [...]

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 [...]