Moving Past the Fear of RejectionMost of us know the fear of rejection, even if we do not always call it that. It is the fear of putting ourselves out there and wondering what will happen next. Maybe they ignore us. Maybe they say no. Maybe they laugh. Maybe they judge. Maybe someone we thought was on our side looks at us differently, and suddenly that old question shows up again: am I enough?I wi...  Read More

The Courage to Commit: Offering Ourselves Fully to God and One AnotherModern commitment life reveals a quiet irony. We readily subscribe to services, lease vehicles, buy insurance, agree to terms, and make financial pledges to strangers. We swipe and tap credit cards, promising repayment without much thought. Our commitments are frequent yet often made with little deliberation. However, when asked...  Read More

When Fear Meets Faith: Learning to Step Into the UnknownHumans have a deep-rooted fear of the unknown; whether we call it instinct, nature, or nurture, it's a common feeling. We tend to create routines, seek comfort, and surround ourselves with what is familiar because it feels safe. I often joke that missing breakfast after church can throw off my whole week. However, genuinely significant moment...  Read More

New FormatBlog Posts will now look at the past week, along with some reflection questions based on the sermon.The Only Thing We Have to FearFranklin Delano Roosevelt faced a nation engulfed in fear. The Great Depression had devastated the economy, leaving families in poverty. Cities were overcrowded, driven by greed, and suffering from disease. Within a week of his inauguration, Adolf Hitler becam...  Read More

So y'all will get two posts this week because somebody forgot to post this last week...Also, sorry this is a long one.The Holy SpiritWhen Jesus left, floating up into the sky and waving his hands goodbye to his friends and family, he made a promise: He would not leave them, or us, alone. Most translations quote Jesus calling this abiding presence that Jesus will leave with humanity “the advocate” ...  Read More

Jesus’ ascension into heaven prompts more questions than answers, as any good Bible story should. These include: Why isn't this in other Gospels? Where exactly did Jesus go, and where is He now? When will Jesus return? How will He return? What about us slow people? Are we to be judged, too, or do we get a pass? Do other people get to ascend to heaven? I could and will go on.The account of Jesus's ...  Read More

Our Lenten Sermon Series focused on brokenness and how everyone is broken, yet God uses our brokenness for good. Jesus transforms our brokenness by giving it purpose and preventing it from defining us entirely. (Feel free to revisit some of these inspiring sermons on our website and YouTube channel.) After 40 days on this theme, it might seem repetitive, and I will do my best to avoid over-echoing...  Read More

What is the church? Is it a physical building with four walls and a steeple? Or is it a hierarchy of authority that leads to Christ? Could it be the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church, or any other denomination? Or perhaps the church is simply all those who have professed belief in God. When we mention saints, are we referring to the legendary saints known for ...  Read More

Last week, we noted that one modern function of creeds is to outline beliefs of faith. Creeds primarily serve to protect the church and correct understanding from heresy. Most ancient creeds emerged in response to theological debates of their time. Today, creeds still function similarly by defining boundaries for what a group considers distinct from other traditions. The United Church of Canada Cr...  Read More

Last week, I mentioned that the earliest Christian Creed was “Jesus is Lord.” In Greek, it's transliterated as “Kyrios Khristós” or “Kyrios Iēsoûs,” depending on the source. These mean “Christ is Lord” and “Jesus is Lord,” respectively. This week's passage, Philippians 2:3-11, is likely the second-oldest Christian Creed we have, and it forms the foundation of my personal theology and faith. I migh...  Read More

My favorite active Chiefs player might surprise some: Creed Humphrey. I've always had mixed feelings about offensive linemen. It’s a strange position for a Creed fan, because I don’t want to hear his name called as often as we did with Jawaan Taylor. There’s no hate or harsh judgment. It’s not like I’d play that position myself. Usually, hearing a lineman’s name called means he had a penalty or mi...  Read More

We begin our sermon series on the Apostles’ Creed a bit out of order, with “Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was Crucified, Dead and Buried, the Third Day He Rose Again.” It is Easter, after all. Over the next few weeks, we will go through the Apostles’ Creed line by line, unpacking what it means and how the Creed shapes and defines our faith. We will discuss more about the history behind this Creed...  Read More