We baptized seven people today, just outside of Bowman Hall. And honestly, it felt even more special than I expected. I mean, it’s always exciting to watch people publicly proclaim their faith in Jesus. And every time, I’m encouraged by … Continue reading
I read Psalm 75 when I woke up this morning, and it felt surprisingly fresh and relevant for Thanksgiving Day 2021. We thank you, O God!We give thanks because you are near.People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. God says, “At … Continue reading
I contemplate my own mortality more during the month of November than any other time of the year. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the natural world is losing all its color and entering into a period of dormancy. The light … Continue reading
It rained all morning. I was worried that we might not be able to follow through on our plans to organize a group of volunteers from H2O Church at Kent State University for a leaf-raking service project. But fortunately, conditions … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Penelope Wilcock’s book, The Hour Before Dawn. It’s the fifth book in The Hawk and the Dove series, marking the exact midpoint in the nine-part series. I’ve been steadily reading through these books over the course of 2021, since they … Continue reading
Over the last couple of decades, I’ve thought and wrote a lot about the intersection of sexuality and spirituality. Most churches (and church leaders) seem to gravitate towards imbalance. Either they avoid the topic as much as possible, or they … Continue reading
There’s really no such thing as “just another day at the office” in my line of work. Because people are complicated. And spiritual development is supernatural, by nature. But, perhaps most of all, college ministry is weird — especially when … Continue reading
I got some peace and perspective in the woods of Geauga County this morning. I visited three of the county’s smaller parks: Eldon Russell Park, the Wild Calla Kettle trails at the Burton Wetlands, and the Russell Uplands Preserve. And … Continue reading
Dear Olivia, What a gift it is to be your father! I know that you’re supposed to be the one receiving the gift for an occasion such as this — but it really does feel like a privilege for our … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Gregory Coles’ memoir, Single Gay Christian. It was recommended to me by my friend and colleague, Lauren. She said it was a very quick and engaging read, and I completely agree with that assessment. Even as a slower … Continue reading