My Hiatus

There are times when the hardest part of preparation for weekly preaching and Bible study is hearing God speak to you in a convicting way. Over the past few months, and even more intensely in recent weeks, I've heard God's convicting voice not only in my regular preparation for pastoral ministry, but also through friends, family members, and other people I respect. In a word, the voice has asked, "Priorities?"

Scripture teaches us that, no matter who we are, our Christian living begins at home. While there are an abundance of people who can fill each of our callings in our workplaces, communities, and congregations, each of us is the only person Christ called in our baptism, who can be the husband or wife of our spouse, and the parent of our children. Moreover, when these relationships at home aren't healthy, it impacts all of our other callings.

It has been made abundantly clear to me that God's word about my priorities directly applies to my callings as his child, Anita's husband, and Robbie's father. While there have been many times I've felt the pull to reorganize my life to establish better priorities, the patterns I currently operate with have been functioning for well over a decade and I've finally come to realize that, unless I do something drastic, I won't be able to reorient them.

To help me accomplish this, God has opened up an unexpected yet challenging door that I have decided to step through. At this time, I am temporarily stepping aside from pastoral ministry. I'm going to use this time to focus on my own faith and my family so, when the time is right, I can return to the calling I love, but be far more faithful in living it out.

Part of this door that God has opened includes the means to assure that I can care for my family as we enter this transition, although I also plan on seeking temporary employment as a means to establish some healthy life patterns when it comes to work and family relations.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus tells us that the ways of the Kingdom clash with our natural ways, and to transform us from one way to the other, there are very painful times when God breaks us down so that he can rebuild us according to his will. These coming months are going to be just such a time, and I ask for all of your prayers for Anita, Robbie and me as we step into the unknown and trust that Jesus has something marvelous in store for us.

The Elemental Life

Links:
Official Website
Buy the Book

This is my first full length book. It grew out of my work in downtown Denver and is designed as a resource for somebody who wants to try on a Christian worldview.

The back cover reads: Life, the decisions and challenges we face concerning work, recreation, money, relationships, and the future can become complex and overwhelming. But they don't have to be. the elemental life uses the four ancient elements of earth, water, fire, and wind to take a fresh look at historic biblical Christianity. In the process, the elemental life offers a different way of looking at the world around you ... a way that provides clarity in the midst of chaos, speaks words of forgiveness when confronted by failure, makes the most of the struggles of life, and gives meaning to the mundane moments of your everyday experience. It's not easy, but it is elemental. Find a friend and talk, challenge, encourage, and discover together. Get back to the elemental life.

Where's God in All of This?

Links:
Order from LHM
Download a PDF

In the spring of 2006, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) in St. Louis published a booklet I wrote titled "Where's God in All of This?". As the title would suggest, the booklet explores what C.S. Lewis once identified as the problem of pain, namely, how a loving and gracious God can co-exist with all of the suffering in the world.

The back cover of the booklet reads in part: "Suffering comes in so many different forms, but the all drive us back to that age-old question, 'Where's God in All of This?'"