Recent Posts
Summertime Boredom 3
The dog days of summer are here! There’s nothing like some 95-degree days from mother nature to slow us down a bit. While we can be grateful for the gift of modern air conditioning that graces pretty much every corner of the USA (looking at you, Europe!), the long, hot days still have a unique power to slow down our appetites, thoughts, and frantic pace. This is to be embraced as one of the great gifts of summer.
Whether you’re sitting by a pool, or a porch, by a cottage or campsite or your couch, summer invites us to sit and linger a little bit longer. Please, friends, say “Yes” to that invitation...
Summertime Boredom 2
Last week, I wrote an ode to the blessing of being bored over the summer holidays. This week, I’ve got a little more to share on the same topic! As one old enough to remember being a kid without cell phones and computer screens, I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic for the olden times when the long days of summer vacations seemed to last for ages and contained multitudes of adventures and new activities.
And now that I’m older...
Summertime Boredom
Twice today – once at church, once out in the neighborhood – I heard a kid call to their mom, “I’m Bored!” Both times I smiled inside and thought, “Yes! That’s where so many good things begin.” Boredom is one of God’s great summertime gifts. Healthy boredom is the kind of downtime through which God can restore, refresh, and recalibrate us.
We live in a world where we are constantly consuming information, scrolling through social media, and frantically switching between tasks...
We've Got Issues
After nine months of walking through the Bible, we’re turning a corner into how our Sunday morning summer worship services are structured. Of course, God’s Word is still going to be at the center of all things, but the way we enter into the Word is temporarily going to change.
We’re launching into a new series of messages for June and July called “We’ve Got Issues!”...
Farmers Market Give Away
During the Memorial Day Parade in Elmhurst on Monday, I was joyfully reminded of how much fun it is to give away other people’s stuff. I honestly think it’s one of my top spiritual gifts!
Let me explain…
As a contingent of market volunteers paraded our way through downtown Elmhurst, we passed out slips of paper with essential information about the upcoming Elmhurst Farmers Market to anyone who looked eager to receive it (a little bit of fun), as well as 4”x4” sponge-like squares embedded with wildflower seeds, making for a simple way to water, plant and enjoy the beauty. That part was SO MUCH FUN. And...
Memorial Day 2026 – Remember
The Memorial Day holiday encourages us to remember those who have fought and sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. I have quite a few family members who served in the military: my dad, uncles, grandfathers, and nephews. But to my knowledge, I don’t have any blood relatives who gave their lives in service to the United States of America. Because I don’t have a direct family or personal connection to honor on Memorial Day, on Monday I’m going to remember these words from Billy Graham (d. 2018) who reflected on his time with President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955...