The space between Christmas and New Year’s is one of my favorite weeks of the year. And this year was no different. All week, mornings had been slow—soft pants, legos on the floor, reading my book, music playing in the background. Breakfast stretched a little longer than it probably should have. Sometimes the TV stayed […]

A few weeks ago, someone shared a story that I can’t stop thinking about. They told me they came to Good Shepherd for the very first time on Christmas Eve just two years ago. They had been “church shopping” for a while—curious, cautious, unsure if church was even for them anymore. Then, almost on a […]

The Friday after Thanksgiving has a calm all its own. Usually the big meal is behind us, the dishes are done, and the leftovers are waiting in the fridge (because of course one of the best things about Thanksgiving is the leftovers). Maybe there’s football on in the background, maybe you’re finishing a second (or […]

Hey friends, There’s something about fall that’s just hard not to love. Every year when this season rolls around, I find myself slowing down and paying a little more attention. Maybe it’s the way the light hits the trees in the evening, or how the air feels cooler and calmer. Maybe it’s the sound of […]

The other night, Ellio was sitting at the kitchen table with his homework spread out in front of him. He was frustrated. He stared at the page, erased an answer, tried again, sighed loudly, and finally looked up at me with that expression that said, “Dad, can you just tell me the answer?” I knew […]

This past week, my daughter Esther walked into her first day of kindergarten with a backpack slung over her shoulders and a mixture of nerves and determination written all over her face. The night before, she confessed what so many of us feel in moments of transition: “Dad, I’m just a little scared.” It wasn’t […]

Earlier this week, I was working from home (because—summer break). I had my coffee, my notes spread out, and I was deep into writing this week’s sermon on how we can listen to God’s voice. I was reflecting on how we sense God’s presence, how we hear God’s nudges, how we follow where God leads. […]

Hey Good Shepherd, Walking into the building this week you could feel something electric in the air. The music was loud, the rooms were buzzing, the colors were bright, and everywhere you looked, kids were laughing, dancing, and singing their hearts out. Over 300 children filled our space for VBS—some hearing about Jesus for the […]

Hi Good Shepherd, Last month, GS Kids made an exciting (and slightly chaotic) purchase—a gumball machine. If you’ve been to our North Oak campus recently, you’ve probably seen it. It’s stationed just inside the Gathering Space… which also happens to be right outside my office. From that vantage point, I’ve witnessed the magnetic pull this […]