The Mid-Week Memo

When I was a child, I would often have visions and dreams and at times, believe I could hear God's voice inside of me directing my path. But as I grew older, I fell prisoner to the belief that God no longer speaks to us directly unless we are possessed or mentally ill. And so, I denied my experience for years. In my early 30s, I became dissatisfied with serving such a distant God when the bible was full of instances of God walking and talking with his people. So, I…

How many of you have worked for a boss who was a micromanager? Raise your hand. You are not alone, trust me. We all have at some point in our career. At times, it feels like a support group would be helpful; a place where we can express our frustration and concerns.Like in most places in our everyday lives, good communication is essential in quality relationships. Micromanagers, however, struggle with quality communication. As an example, they tend to discourage independent…

Last month, our dear friends invited us to join them during their vacation at a house they rented on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was awesome. The weather was mixed, but the company was amazing. I had vacationed there as a kid and young adult for countless years. I also invested considerably in real estate up and down the OBX in the mid-to-late ’80s. It was a crazy time in real estate, but it was capped off by a recession brought on by a savings and loan…

John 3:17 comes right after one of the most famous verses in the Bible, and it continues to clarify the manner in which Jesus brings us eternal life. The great gift of God through Jesus comes to all who believe in Jesus as the way to salvation. John tells us that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world because of its sin, but rather to save the world through His life, death, and resurrection. It can be easy to feel condemned or guilty because we don’t…

God has blessed Julia and me with a wonderful ocean front summer home in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. We love sunrise walks along the beach, the cool ocean breezes, and sharing this place with guests. However, being “down the shore” keeps us away from our church home. Determined not to “forsake the assembly of the saints,” we got up June 30 planning to attend services. I had located one of the seasonal seaside chapels that dot the coastline. It seemed…

One of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed was during the time I was working at a rescue mission. An event was planned at our city's convention center, which brought in some top-tier international speakers from the Christian community. As I was sitting in our customary Monday morning leadership team meeting, one of the speakers dropped by our mission and made a donation. This person ran a ministry in the poorest country in the world where they fed 50,000…

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?Job 12:12 Okay, so you can’t do a cartwheel anymore. Tree climbing, cliff diving, and disco dancing are not on your schedule this week. You also can’t remember the name of the dog owned by your best friend from high school. Or where you put your car keys this morning. Really, it’s okay.You may have lost some physical dexterity and your memory may need a reboot, but with age and…

On Sunday our Pastor tackled a difficult subject. Here’s how he put it. Who do you trust? Another contentious election season is upon us, and there will be a flurry of ads, debates, signs, billboards, commercials, and non-stop news coverage. Some of us will retreat, while others will fight. Many will experience anxiety, stress, and even fear. It’s a topic we must discuss as the body of Christ. Should we dig in and express ourselves in a way that brings clarity…

When you think of humility, what comes to mind? In our world, humility is not something often celebrated. We would rather be seen as powerful, influential, and competent. If humility is weakness, pride is strength. But is it, really? Pride can feel good, but it can hold us back from who God made us to be. It makes us think that if we try hard enough, we can become good enough. If we’re doing great, pride makes our confidence soar. But if we’re going through a…