When you grow up around a lake there are certain dock traditions that manifest. One of ours was grabbing the Pert Plus, lathering our heads with the soapy bubbles dribbling everywhere and jumping off the roof of the dock into the lake to wash our hair. Save your questions of how that was actually clean … Continue reading wash

I will never forget the first time I saw a Hydroflask in Haiti, and the cold, clean water that it could hold for hours upon hours. In hot Haiti, water never stayed cold for too long, but if you had a Hydroflask…all bets were off. And friends, this was long before Hydroflask bottles were cool … Continue reading water

When my nephew and I go to the Wonders of Wildlife at Bass Pro, there is this tank of fish that are constantly swimming in the same direction and it is so tall it looks like a fishnado. Even if one or a couple of fish drift out, the entire column of fish adjusts to … Continue reading fish

I’ve spent a lot of time on highway 13 between Kansas City and Springfield in the last year. First it was springy trees, then those summery ones….and then my favorite fall colors. You don’t miss a Midwest fall until you’ve lived in eternal summer and Colorado where it is mostly yellow aspens for fall. Don’t … Continue reading tree

I was surrounded by lively boisterous worship music. Every hand was raised in the air. If the roof were not attached, I am completely sure that it would have lifted off of the walls supporting it. Pastor Claude was decked out in his white suit. Three piece white suit, mind you, as well as white … Continue reading hurt

I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family … Continue reading cross

I can be a word nerd. Sometimes it gets uber ridiculous, especially when I am studying God’s word. While I love languages, I have no formal education in Greek and Hebrew language, but when I am reading the Bible I get stuck on single words and have this crazy desire to know what the original … Continue reading mercy

Several months ago, I got into painting rocks. Pandemic does weird things, but I love that it has forced new creative outlets into my life. I had written a rock activity into the virtual mission trip for the students, and then we added it into Neighbors Week at North Cross a couple months later. The … Continue reading rock

μετανοέω Metanoeó ‘Repent’ in Greek: To change one's mind or purpose. To think differently. Reconsider. Perhaps we could also look at it as a transformative change of heart.  A change of our minds and a change in character. Perhaps it is also helpful to hear that ‘repentance’ involves a turning with regret from sin to … Continue reading repent