For the past year God has taken me on a deeper journey of confession in my life. I think, before, confession was something I didn’t take very seriously. I knew it was something we should do in the Christian life, obviously, but my dedication to it was never where it needed to be. Perhaps some of you reading this can relate. What brought me to the realization that I needed to have a deeper life and love for confession is a song that I heard...

So a couple of weeks ago I had a second lumbar disectomy surgery after I had re-injured the same disk that I injured two years ago. The doctor’s orders: walk around from time to time, but mainly rest for a week or so. Leading up to the surgery, I must say the pain was excruciating. I couldn’t sleep well; couldn’t sit for more than 2-3 minutes at a time. It hurt to drive and pretty much do anything. At the time I didn’t know that I had...

Where “Yes, Lord” Becomes Normal – Chris Carpenter I hate to admit when I follow the ways of the world, especially as a pastor. But I’m so prone to it. My example in this post is going to seem so inconsequential, but yet is still an example as to how our Lord Jesus is in control, and how all is well in that. About six months ago our projector on Sunday morning broke down. Just flat out overheated and stopped working…shut...

The Gift of Being a Father There is nothing I enjoy more, other than being the husband to my lovely wife, Jean, than being the father to my daughter, Hannah. She’s three, and in a three year’s old mind reality hasn’t sunk in yet. Daddy is still cool, not embarrassing, and neat to be around. I’ll take it as long as I can get it!!! So when I prepare to go home from the office, or wherever it is God has taken me in my pastoral duties for...

In preparing my teachings in the Nehemiah series, I’ve been reading “A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah” by J.I. Packer. In Chapter 2 titled “Called to Serve”, Packer quotes E.M. Bounds, speaking about the church a century ago during his time, relating it to Nehemiah: “How few the strong men in these days who can weep at the evils and abominations of the times! How rare those who, seeing the desolations of...

Wow! Our first blog post on the new Hope Community website! Only seems fitting that we should begin with a simple but worshipful doxology from Romans 11:   “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and...