The Pastor's Perspective

       Have you ever started something with great enthusiasm, only to see your resolve waver when challenges arose? Whether it's a new fitness routine, a creative project, a relationship, or a personal goal, commitment is often the secret ingredient that determines success or stagnation. It’s the difference between a fleeting interest and lasting transformation.      In a world brimming with distractions and instant gratification, true commitment can feel like a rare commodity these days. We often find ourselves in what we might call "The Path of a Lack of Commitment" – a place where good intentions give way to excuses, where promises become forgotten whispers, and where our potential remains untapped.     This is a road we see others take time and time again. From our co-workers who choose to call in time and again. To our children not doing their chores or their homework. To seeing young people dropping out of school. To the people we see w...

       Ever felt like you're running on a treadmill, expending massive energy but getting nowhere? That feeling, that heavy weight in your chest, the constant irritation simmering just below the surface – that's the path of frustration. It's a path many of us find ourselves on, sometimes without even realizing how we got there. It can show up in countless ways: At work: That project that keeps getting delayed, the colleague who never pulls their own weight, the endless stream of emails, dead lines that seem to be missed, expectations that can never be meet. At home: The never-ending chores, the miscommunication with a loved one, the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibilities. Things constantly breaking down, and bills that never seem to get paid.  In life generally: Traffic jams, slow internet, unexpected expenses, or even just feeling misunderstood.      Frustration is a powerful emotion, and if left unchecked, it can lead to bitterness,...

      Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a loop of frustration? The coffee’s cold, traffic’s bad, your to-do list is endless, and suddenly, every little annoyance adds up until you’re just… grumbling. You find yourself frustrated at the current situation and every chance you get you share your frustration to anyone who will listen. You form your own little pity party and everyone is invited.        Complaining can feel like a harmless vent, but it can also be a slippery slope. Before you know it, you’re not just expressing a temporary frustration; you’re living on the "Path of Complaining," a journey paved with despair, disappointment, and doubt. Perhaps you know someone who has been on that path for some time. Every time your around them they always have something to complain about. You begin to think "Man is there anything that makes you happy?" They seem to point out things that they disagree with, things that are not just right. It's a p...

   A missionary Group in China (not referenced in this blog)        Have you ever found yourself in a situation that felt utterly impossible? A problem too big, a need too great, a challenge that seemed to mock your every effort? It's in these moments that we need to be reminded of a profound truth: the God we serve is a God of power, and He is a God who answers prayer.     There was a  missionary team, small in number, facing an overwhelming obstacle on an island off the coast of China. The islanders were fiercely devoted to an idol named Ta-wang, convinced of its power because their annual parade, held in its honor, always brought perfect weather. It was their undeniable "proof" that their god was real and powerful. This caused them to be very resistant to these missionaries and there message. Many of them refused to even hear about Jesus Christ, because of their devotion to Ta-wang.       A young, sixteen-year-old boy ...

       Frodo and Sam Looking at Mt. Doom      If you have ever read the Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien or watched the movies. You know about the story of Frodo and his dangerous trek through Morder. Just as Frodo faced the soul-crushing despair of Cirith Ungol, the betrayal of Gríma Wormtongue, or the sheer terror of Shelob's lair, we too encounter our own versions of these trials—moments of profound despair, unexpected betrayals, or overwhelming obstacles that threaten to consume us whole, testing the very limits of our endurance.       I think it is safe to say that we’ve all experinced a trial or two in our lives. It’s easy in those moments to wonder, “Why me? Why this hardship?”  We begin to look around and see what seems to us to be people living there best life and we are struggling. And often, the immediate conclusion to all of this is we say that the enemy is at work, unleashing every possible trouble our way. ...

  Mister Rogers Neighborhood     This maybe surprising to you but e ven the kindest  of souls face opposition. If your like me you grew up watching Mr. Rogers neighborhood. It was one of the most beloved children's TV shows. His kind soft spoken demeanor was captivating. It was a great show that many kids enjoyed watching growing up. It was a program that taught children about the world around them, and emphasized the importance of treating others with respect and understanding. Sounds good right, I mean who could have a problem with a guy like that?      Well you will be surprised to hear that a  news outlet once called him an "Evil, Evil Man." It sounds absurd, doesn't it? That's right the soft spoken and kind Mr. Rogers was according to this news agency was an "Evil, Evil  Man". Yet, it highlights a stark reality: even those who live to uplift and inspire can find themselves unfairly targeted, accused, or misunderstood.     I thi...

 Like I am sure many of you who are reading this can remember that childhood game "Simon Says" The rules were simple: only follow the instructions if "Simon says" them. Yet, dispite the simple instructions we quickly learned how difficult it was to follow them. How many times did we jump the gun, doing something without hearing those magic words, and end up out of the game?       It really does prove a vital point I have found to be true time and time again.  That truth is following instructions, especially when they challenge our assumptions, isn't always easy. This is profoundly true when it comes to following God's leading. Doing what God has called you to do sounds simple but to implement it is anything but easy. What happens when God "says" something that goes against everything we've ever known, everything we've been taught, or even everything we feel comfortable with?       This is exactly what Peter discovered one pivotal d...

            I have always been artsy, and I love to draw and watch programs about drawing and art. Growing up, one show always captivated me: "The Joy of Painting" with Bob Ross. With his gentle voice and signature afro, Bob would transform a blank canvas into breathtaking landscapes, complete with "happy little trees" and "friendly little clouds." What truly mesmerized me was his ability to take what looked like a blob of paint, or what seemed like an accidental smudge, and turn it into a majestic mountain or a shimmering lake. When he started off you might have thought "well he done ruined it" then by the end you were left mesmerized. He'd often say, with a reassuring smile, "There are no mistakes, just happy little accidents."      Don't we often feel like we've made a mess of things in our own lives? In 45 years of living here on this earth I will be the first one to say that I have had my fair share of  mistakes. There ...

       We've all witnessed it. The campaign speeches filled with bold pronouncements, the unwavering commitments made with conviction. Yet, as the dust settles and the realities of governance take hold, those promises often seem to evaporate like morning mist, don't they. It sometimes leaves you wondering "Hey have you forgot about what you said just a few months ago?"        We hear explanations, justifications about "evolving circumstances," and needing to reach across the isle. Sometimes we hear things about how they don't have enough votes anyway. Or a thousand other reasons why they can't do the very things that they promised they would do. It can leave us all feeling a bit used, and frustrated.        Machiavelli, once said "the promise given was a necessity of the past; the word broken is the necessity of the present," that sadly seems to echo in the halls of capital hill today. We've become accustomed to a cer...

  "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  -   Micah 6:8     I believe w e live in a world that seems to be saturated with discussions about justice, fairness, and truth. It seems to be something that we hear a lot about these days. It seems there is always someone championing for change for one thing or another. There seems to be more and more people willing to speak out and call out injustices that they see going on in this world. This is not a bad thing necessary and it certainly beats the alternative of silence in the face of iniquity and inequality.      As followers of Jesus, our hearts resonate deeply with these concepts or at least I believe they should. We read the powerful pronouncements of the prophets, the compassionate acts of Jesus, and the calls for righteous living throughout the Scriptures. Verses about caring for the w...

     There is a story about a Civil War soldier who had  a peculiar strategy for survival. This Confederate soldier thought one day that he would put on a blue Union coat and gray Confederate trousers. What this soldier thought was that if he would do this it might shield him from enemy fire. Surely, he reasoned, neither side would target someone who appears to be one of their own. With his disguise complete he decided to test his theory out. So the soldier tiptoed  out onto the field, confident in his clever camouflage. The result, was not what he expected! A barrage of bullets from both sides came hurling at him. His failed attempt to appease everyone left him vulnerable to everyone.     I  shared this story because I believe it paints a vivid picture of the perilous path of compromise, especially when it comes to our Christian faith. The desire to fit in, to avoid conflict, to find common ground can be a powerful lure. One that many find themse...