More Than Words...

There are lots of things I genuinely enjoy about the Christmas season—the food, the family gatherings, the gift-giving, the celebrations. It's the one time of year when songs about Jesus play openly in public spaces across our city. In many ways, Christmas really is a good celebration. And yet, if we're honest, it also awakens something deeper in us—a longing, a heart-cry that won't quite go away. This month, I've had a fresh rendition of the Christmas carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel on repeat. It's not a version everyone enjoys. It is stirring some controversy because it slowly builds toward a raw, heavy metal crescendo—a guttural roar of longing—before collapsing back into a quiet plea: O come, O come Emmanuel.   (Thank you, Skillet)  Your taste in music may be more refined or reserved than mine, so that particular version might not be your thing.  But the cry behind it is. Because beneath the lights, the music, and the celebrations is a shared ache—a yearning for ...

  A couple of weeks ago, I witnessed a scene in the mall that has stayed with me. After grabbing a hot coffee and finding a seat in the food court, I opened my laptop to catch up on some emails. Suddenly, I heard an excited lady exclaim in a loud voice, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Pastor!" I looked up to see a middle-aged woman completely overjoyed as a young pastor unloaded a small grocery cart filled with potatoes, tomatoes, bread, and fresh fruit into her arms. "Thank you! You remembered me," she said. After handing over the groceries, he offered a short prayer, gave her a big hug, and then continued on his way. It was an overcast Monday morning when I had not seen a single smile, only many tired and weary commuters with heads down and shoulders hunched. That scene felt like a bright light piercing through the darkness, and her joy was contagious. A few moments later, a young mom and her child took a seat at the table in front of her. The two connected with...

Most followers of Jesus genuinely long to see the church grow and the kingdom of God advance in the world. That’s a good and right desire—we should care deeply about seeing more people come to faith and experience transformation through Christ. But when we look at how “growth” is often measured in today’s church culture, it’s easy to assume that the key to advancing God’s kingdom lies in our ability to communicate skillfully, plan engaging events, market strategically, and draw large crowds to hear a gifted speaker. Jesus, however, gives us a very different picture of how His kingdom grows. God's Kingdom Grows Through Faithful Sowing In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a farmer scattering seed. The seed represents God’s Word, and the different types of soil symbolize the condition of people’s hearts as they hear it. The point is simple yet profound: when the Word of God’s kingdom takes root in receptive hearts, lasting transformation happens. Kingdom growth doesn’t come from c...