Essays
A Pastor's Reflection on Political Violence
Yesterday, September 10, 2025, we once again witnessed horrendous acts of violence in our country. There was a school shooting in Colorado. There was also what appears to be a politically motivated assassination. Earlier this year, our country saw a representative from Minnesota assassinated, apparently for political reasons. There was also the assassination of a CEO of a large health insurance company. In all three cases, people from across the political spectrum condemned the violence. Yet there were also voices, from both sides, arguing in the most appalling ways that those assassinated “got what they deserved.”
I wish any of this were surprising or shocking. None of it is.
Lives Hidden With Christ - The Spiral
You can listen to the full audio of this message here: Lives Hidden With Christ - The Spiral
When was the last time you learned something new? Maybe it was a skill, a hobby, or simply a new piece of knowledge. Whatever it was, you probably started with the basics—the fundamentals.
My son grew up playing baseball, and I quickly learned how important fundamentals are. Even as he advanced, practice always included hitting off a tee, fielding ground balls, and playing catch. What struck me is that professional athletes—the best in the world—still return to the fundamentals. They never move past them, but they also don’t stop there. The fundamentals are the foundation upon which the rest of the game is built.
That truth applies not only to sports, but to every area of life, including our spiritual lives.
Lives Hidden With Christ - Faith, Love, and Hope
Faith and love in the Christian life are rooted in the certainty of hope found in the gospel, as illustrated by Paul’s message to the Colossians.
Lives Hidden With Christ - Intro
Check out the full audio of the message here: Lives Hidden With Christ - Intro
Today we begin a new series, walking together through the little letter of Colossians. At only four chapters long, you might think it would take just four Sundays. But this book is so rich, so full of Christ, that it will take us much longer.
Colossians is one of my favorite writings in the New Testament. It is absolutely saturated with Jesus. Everywhere you turn, you encounter Him. You can’t hide from Christ in this letter—He is the central figure on every page.
Bearing Witness to the Way of Love
The fully audio version of the message can be found here: Whispers of Grace - Witness (Revelation)
We’ve come to the end of our summer series, Whispers of Grace: 15 New Testament Words of Life. Week by week, we’ve traced these “words of life” across the New Testament. Today we arrive at the last book of the Bible—Revelation—and with it, our final word: witness.
The Greek word behind “witness” is martis. If that sounds familiar, it should: it’s the root of our word “martyr.” In the New Testament, martyrs are witnesses. Nowhere is this clearer than in Revelation, a book that is, at its core, about bearing witness.
Love First - Becoming Like Jesus in the World
You can listen to the whole unabridged sermon here: Whispers of Grace - Love (1 John)
As we near the end of our summer series, Whispers of Grace: 15 New Testament Words of Life, we arrive at word number 14—love. It’s no surprise that love makes the list. After all, when we think of Jesus, of God, of the church—love is supposed to be at the heart of it all.
But let me ask you something: if you walked around and asked people outside the church what word comes to mind when they hear “Christian,” do you think they’d say love?
Probably not.
You’re more likely to hear words like judgmental, mean, or political. And that should break our hearts. Because there may be nothing more central to following Jesus than love.
Holiness Isn’t a List—It’s a Life
You can listen to this week’s message in full here: Whispers of Grace - Holy (1 Peter)
This past fall, I took a weekend trip with my oldest friend, Vince. I’ve mentioned him before—we met on a basketball court at 16, and we’ve been friends ever since. That’s more than three decades now, which makes me feel… well, old.
Vince is a diehard Notre Dame football fan. He loves the movie Rudy—so much that he named his first dog after it—and I’m pretty sure he has the whole thing memorized. The speeches, the plays, the lore—he lives and breathes it. But he had never actually been to a Notre Dame game.
Religion Isn’t a Dirty Word
You can listen to the full audio version here: Whispers of Grace - Religion (James)
“Christianity Isn’t a Religion, It’s a Relationship”… Right?
Back in the day, when I was on staff with Campus Crusade, I can’t count how many times I’d sit across from a college student and hear something like, “Yeah, I don’t do religion. It’s just not my thing.” And my go-to response? “Ah, but see—that’s the beautiful part. Christianity isn’t a religion. It’s a relationship.”
I thought I had a killer line. And sure, there’s truth in it—Christianity is deeply relational. We have a relationship with God through Christ in the Holy Spirit. But here’s the thing: I was wrong. Christianity is a religion.
Behind Every Belief Is a Feeling
I remember the first time I drove a three-wheeler. I had ridden on the back with older cousins driving, but I had never been the one in control. There was an overwhelming sense of nervousness as I grabbed the handlebars and placed my thumb on the throttle. I knew where the gear shift was—just near my left foot. I took a deep breath and gave it a little gas. It began to move! A thrill ran through my entire being.
As I drove, I got more confident. Then I got arrogant, believing I was in control. But as I turned a corner, I hit a root—or maybe a large rock—and my thumb slammed down on the throttle. I was absolutely not in control. The machine underneath me was the real master. I was, in all reality, simply trying to hold on and manage it the best I could.
From Guilt to Grace - The Path to Soul-Level Peace
The audio of this week’s message: Whispers of Grace - Peace (Hebrews)
As we continue our summer series, Whispers of Grace: New Testament Words of Life, today we turn our attention to the word peace. This is especially fitting given our setting—Peace Presbyterian Church. It’s worth pausing to reflect on what this word means, particularly for those of us who call this place home.
Our focus today is the letter to the Hebrews, specifically chapter 10. At first glance, it might seem odd to draw insights about peace from Hebrews, since the word itself only appears a few times in the text. However, the theme is present in powerful, though indirect, ways. Hebrews speaks frequently of rest and of reconciliation, of how humanity’s sin is atoned for. These discussions open a deeper understanding of peace—a peace that is more than the absence of conflict or noise. It is a soul-level peace, hard-won and deeply rooted in Christ.
The Battle for Liberty - Two Stories, One Word
Depending on how you answer that question, someone could likely place you on the political spectrum. That’s because liberty makes up one half of the final moral foundation described by Jonathan Haidt in The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. This is the liberty/oppression moral foundation.
The Glue of Disgust - Exploring Our Sanctity Instinct
I’m a pretty big fan of Mister Rogers. I remember watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood growing up, and his kind and reassuring voice always resonated with me. He was, in many ways, a role model. After my parents' divorce, the world felt a bit topsy-turvy, but there was a consistent kindness that came from Mister Rogers. Over the years, as I grew into an adult, I learned that Mister Rogers was a Presbyterian minister (hey, me too!) and also the kind of guy who would get into “good trouble.” This gentle and kind man was anything but timid or weak.
Hope Rises - The Resurrection as Our Foundation
If you’d like to listen to this week’s message you can do so right here: Whispers of Grace - Hope (1 & 2 Thessalonians)
One of my favorite fictional universes is Star Wars. As I’ve shared before, I stand firmly on the right side of the Star Wars versus Star Trek debate. Trekkies, Trekkers, or whatever you call yourselves, you’re wrong. Star Wars, with its space wizards and laser swords, is vastly superior to the subpar Star Trek series.
The Spectrum of Submission - Where Do You Stand?
When you think about your boss, do you have positive or negative emotions? How about when you consider the reality of a hierarchy at your workplace or social institution? In general, do you think that hierarchies and their resulting authority structures are good and helpful, or do you see them as something to be bucked against?
Whispers of Grace - The Radical Call to Share Life
The audio of this week’s message can be found here: Whispers of Grace - Fellowship (Philippians)
The concept of “community” is a major buzzword in the church world today. You hear it everywhere—in announcements about community lunches, chair volleyball, and denominational meetings. While we love to talk about community, it often feels shallow and misses the deeper calling for followers of Jesus.
Grace Without Conditions - The Radical Love That Turns the World Upside Down
The audio for this week’s message can be found here: Grace Without Conditions - The Radical Love That Turns the World Upside Down
This week, we’re talking about a word that many of us have heard so often, it risks losing its impact. It’s a word we might hear in church, at dinner tables, and even during Olympic commentary—so much so that it can go in one ear and out the other.
That word is grace.
Whispers of Grace - What Truly Counts? Unpacking Faith, Trust, and the Gospel
We often use words like “faith” and “belief” interchangeably, assuming we understand their full meaning. But what if there’s more to faith than we realize? What if our understanding is incomplete, even if we’ve been in church our whole lives?
This post dives into the rich meaning of faith, drawing insights from the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Galatians and Romans, and a book titled 15 New Testament Words of Life by Dr. Nijay Gupta.
Whispers of Grace - Embracing the Cruciform Life
We’re deep into our “Whispers of Grace” series, and today we’re tackling a powerful, perhaps unsettling, concept: the cross. More specifically, we’re exploring cruciformity – the idea of being formed to the way of the crucifixion. Sounds terrible, right? Jesus himself said, “If you’re going to follow me, every day you have to take up your cross.” This doesn’t exactly align with the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” sales pitch many of us heard when we first started walking with Jesus.
How do “wonderful plan” and “take up your cross daily” go together? It’s a tough question, and one we need to wrestle with. Our focus this morning, as we journey through these 15 New Testament words of life, is on First and Second Corinthians.
The Battle Lines Within - Understanding Our Tribal Instincts
“You’re either with us, or against us.” This sentiment has been expressed by countless world leaders throughout history.
What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? For me, it’s Joshua asking the “commander of the Lord’s army,” “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” Others might recall President George W. Bush or then-Senator Hillary Clinton using a similar phrase after 9/11.
Every fall in Michigan, there’s what’s known as “hate week.” This is the one week a year when families are pitted against each other. On one side, you have the Maize and Blue; on the other, the Green and White. The week of the Michigan/Michigan State football game is always marked by heightened tribal loyalty. There’s mostly good-natured teasing and many stories shared about past games. Nearly everyone chooses a side.
Living Life to the Full
This week, as we approach Memorial Day, our New Testament “word of life” is simply life. It’s fitting, perhaps, that as we honor those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, we also reflect on what it truly means to live. While it might seem strategic to drop the word “life” on the Sunday before Memorial Day, sometimes, the divine calendar just works out!
Memorial Day is a complex day, isn’t it? It’s solemn, as we remember profound sacrifice, yet also a time of quiet rejoicing, knowing that lives were given so we might live freely and fully. This annual observance reminds us that life is costly and demands much from us.
Fairness: The Unseen Force Driving Our Emotions
“That’s not fair!”
“You’re cheating!”
How often have parents heard these declarations from their children? There’s an innate human drive toward fairness.
Whispers of Grace - Forgiveness (Luke-Acts)
It’s a universally good feeling to be forgiven. We’ve all been there: that pit-in-your-stomach dread after you’ve messed up, the fear that a relationship might be over. But then you take that deep breath, make the call, own your mistake, and ask, “Will you please forgive me?” The moment hangs in the air, seemingly forever, until that sweet release: “Of course, I forgive you.” What an unbelievable feeling!
But here’s the flip side: How many of us genuinely like to forgive? Not many. We love to be forgiven, but we don’t necessarily like to give forgiveness. This often comes up in conversations among Christians, where the immediate reaction is, “If we just forgive people, we’ll become doormats!” Or, “Where’s the justice in that? These people wronged us; they need to be held accountable!” We invent all sorts of reasons to avoid forgiving, clinging to our grudges, even as we crave the grace of being forgiven ourselves.
Whispers of Grace - Gospel
We’re journeying through our series, “Whispers of Grace,” exploring 15 pivotal New Testament words. Our guide is a fantastic, accessible little New Testament theology book by Dr. Nijay Gupta titled “15 New Testament Words.” If you want to read ahead, I highly recommend grabbing a copy – it’s an encouraging and insightful read. As I explored it a few months ago, I knew this was material we had to delve into, especially for the summer, to grasp these significant concepts within the New Testament and their Old Testament roots. We’re discovering these aren’t just New Testament ideas, but Bible-wide, people-of-God themes.
Last week, we discussed righteousness. This week, we turn to another profound word: gospel.
Our Tender Nerves - The Power of Care and Harm in Moral Judgment
Why do we respond to things the way we do? How do we experience the world? Jonathan Haidt, a moral psychologist, argues that we possess six “taste receptors” that shape how we perceive the world around us. These six foundations, and the varying degrees to which we experience each, influence our understanding.
Our moral taste receptors include: Care/Harm, Fairness/Cheating, Loyalty/Betrayal, Authority/Subversion, Sanctity/Degradation, and Liberty/Oppression. Haidt posits that all of these operate within our minds, driving our emotional intuitions as we process the world. They function similarly to taste buds, but for our emotions.
Whispers of Grace - Righteousness
Matthew 21:28-32 Isaiah 9:1-7
We’re embarking on a new series called “Whispers of Grace,” drawing inspiration from the book 15 New Testament Words of Life by Nijay K. Gupta. This series will explore key New Testament concepts and connect them to the broader story of Scripture. This week, we’re diving into the word righteousness.
What comes to mind when you hear “righteousness”? Perhaps negative connotations like self-righteousness or those judgmental “holier-than-thou” types? Maybe you think of the Righteous Brothers? Or if you’re a child of the ’80s like me, maybe Ferris Bueller being called “one righteous dude” pops into your head.