I’m about to begin a teaching series at Otter Creek Church (The Story of Us) from Genesis 1-11. I’ve been studying all summer, and am working in community with Wade, Luke, Josh, and Collin (two of whom are church planters) on the role of Genesis in the local church. It’s been a tremendous season of reflection [...]

For part of our back-to-school-blessing, I read a letter (know I don’t know the Paisley song on country music stations that’s similar) . . .
16 year old Josh:
You are about to turn 16. You are going to drive a big red F250 truck (affectionately nicknamed “Big Red” and “Clifford” for the children’s book character—you [...]

As a Christian minister, I am a public leader. Like it or not, it comes with the territory. I know the following will resonate with some and disturb others. I write the following after much study, reflection, and prayer. I write also knowing that a blog is a tenuous place to talk about the things [...]

Philip Jenkins, author of some of my favorite reads over the last several years, recently wrote a short piece in The Christian Century concerning the number of Christians living in China.

Some estimate that the # is as high as 120 million–which would make the story of Christianity in China one of the great success stories [...]

I remember vividly The Ryan White Story. A young white boy, who contracted H.I.V. (which became full-blown A.I.D.S. killing Ryan White) found a way into my spirit when I was young, I’ve never been able to forget it. I remember watching the story, hearing about the details of the mysterious disease that emerged in the [...]

Nashville Friends and Otter Creek Family:
As citizens of one of the most influential countries in the history of the world, we are constantly faced with the stark realities of the wealth we enjoy and the poverty that plagues others. For a long time, I hid behind guilt. I stayed up late feeling “bad” and “ashamed” trying to [...]