Time for a trip down memory lane… here is a video I filmed with Luke on New Year’s Even nine years ago. He’s now 14, but it’s as true as ever. The video was my contribution to the Online Video Conference to answer the question: “What Matters Now?” My “One Word” was Relationships. I filmed the video on the Eve of Dec. 31st, 2010 and brought in the New Year with my young son while filming. I could think of no better way to answer that very critical question. I hope this will challenge you to think had about the...

Happy Birthday, Mom. My mom passed away in 1996 – but her presence and influence has never left me. I am so thankful for a mother who saw past my craziness and energy and hyper-activity and saw only God-given potential. I can remember countless times when she would hold my head between her hands and though exhausted (exasperated even!) she would say to me, “Karl, if you can ever figure out how to focus all this creative energy for God – watch out world.” Even when my creative energy was getting me in trouble, she was instilling in me HOPE...

As a Children’s Pastor, I am often asked what Bible parents should get to their children, and often they looked surprised when I answer, “a comic book Bible.” Yes, kids need a REAL Bible, where they can look up Scripture and read the Word of God, but don’t under-estimate the power and educational value of a comic book Bible. I know personally the VALUE of a comic book Bible. My parents got me The Picture Bible back when I was 9 years old. I still have it. It has packing tape holding it together, and you’ll notice they had my...

I had the honor preaching in “Big Church” for the final Sunday of 2020, and brought a rather unusual message. I’m not sure Star Wars, Die Hard, Stranger Things, Nemo and Kung Fu Panda have ever all been in a sermon together until now. But I do hope it will both challenge and encourage you. I’ve long been a student of Story and dove into the Elements of Story and why the Gospel can’t help but make an appearance even in stories written by people who do not know or follow the God of the Bible. Enjoy:  

What a great word of affirmation as we head in to 2021! None of us in ministry deserve it. We are not here because of talents, skills or gifts. It is wholly because of mercy and grace and God’s Call upon our lives. Serve with humilty and gratitude. After describing his own inadequacies, Paul goes on to say, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that… Jesus might display his immense patience as an example…” (Verse 16) I am so blessed to be on staff at an amazing church, and to have the added blessing of an...

I often say there are Sundays that you just need to “break the mold,” and make the experience completely different for the kids. As soon as your lesson format is predictable, it is time to do something different! I often use 5th Sundays to do this, or when there is a holiday that doesn’t fit nicely with the curriculum schedule. This year is a perfect example! Easter is the 2nd Sunday of April, meaning that a 4 week Easter series needs to be started on the 2nd Sunday of March in order to end on the first week of April....