My grandpa was that guy. Garden guy. He owned a house on a little city lot in Sturgis, Michigan, and for something like 40 or 50 years, he cultivated a garden. I loved picking fresh raspberries and strawberries when we went to visit. He also had grapevines, apple trees, and more. His garden was immaculate: carefully cultivated and bursting with fruit  Read More

When I was a student at the CTF School of Ministry in Toronto, Canada, I was really struggling to connect with God in a meaningful way. I would pray and jump into ministry times, but no matter what, I still felt like my relationship with God was ending up at the surface level. After a few weeks of this, I was journaling during a worship set and asked God to speak to me about what was happening. I ...  Read More

The dogwoods have bloomed, the clover sprouted, and the bur oaks were planted! The 20 new bur oak trees we planted will be a treasure for many years to come. Check out the photos below!As Spring rolls into Summer we will begin a mowing and invasive species treatment program, but there’s a parallel project in the works this year… Native species planting!!! Soon we will plant a mixture that includes...  Read More

Years ago, a friend of mine was a successful pastor, well-known and respected around the world. He was a powerful speaker and his life and theology seemed solid. I didn’t know he was very good at hiding certain things. Our network emphasized heart-healing such as repentance, forgiveness, ungodly beliefs, judgements, and such matters, but this pastor didn’t believe it was necessary. Occasionally the...  Read More

Lightning lights up a dark night while the wind howls and the rain pelts the roof. The din of a springtime thunderstorm can cause fear for those caught unaware. Yet when I am safe and nestled in my bed at home, I can be at peace during a storm, since I know my house will protect me. I do not feel that same security when storms rage in my life. My trust in God wavers in the onslaught of illness, or...  Read More

Something goes wrong...something tough happens...the good thing we were expecting doesn’t work out. What then? Do we say, “God abandoned me.” “God didn’t answer my prayer.” “God must not be good.” If these are our responses to trouble, there’s a good chance we are lacking a theology for adversity. I can relate to these feelings of confusion and I believe every Christian needs to grapple with this ...  Read More

In today’s world, we have no shortage of interesting things to give our attention to. Eating breakfast too boring? Watch a video while you’re at it! The drive to work too quiet? Listen to a podcast! Need to go to the bathroom? Why don’t you scroll on Instagram or TikTok while you do your business? I could list a hundred more examples, but I’m sure you all know what I mean. Our lives are filled to ...  Read More

The New Day Nature Trails restoration project continues in 2024! Our restoration contractor recently did trail-smoothing and stump-cutting work. Then the DNR planted a mixture of native species on our two berms near the parking lot trailhead and clover on every square foot of trail. Clover is our plan to differentiate the trails from the prairie and wooded areas. Rather than install pavement, grav...  Read More

“If only he understood, he would see how beautiful it is,” my dad said about the man who had just verbally, and publicly, ripped him to shreds.   While I was in high school, my dad ran a mid-week course for the young adults at church called B.B.B., a silly but effective acronym that stood for “Basic Bible Beliefs.” We covered huge topics like Jesus’ Divinity, the Reliability of Scripture, and Spir...  Read More

Creeds provide concise summaries of the Christian faith or answer questions about particular beliefs. Have you ever wondered… What was the first Christian creed? When was it written?The first creed sits right under our noses every time we read the Bible. Yep. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 and you’ll find it:For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins...  Read More

This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday. “So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna t...  Read More

When I think of beautiful things, the first thing that comes to mind is a sunrise. Can you imagine the dark sky slowly changing from inky black to shades of blue, then reds and orange paint the sky just before the blazing yellow sun bursts through the horizon, until you can no longer look at it, for its brilliant rays become blinding? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Margaret Wolfe Hungerfo...  Read More