The Way to Survive Frustrating Tech Failures (and What that Says About Masks)
My latest musings on tech and mask, all in one:
Over the last week, virtually everything that could go wrong with the technology I depend on for work has gone wrong, as if it has actively turned against me. Having spent a fair number of years wrangling information technology, one thing has always provided a path to survival in those times: redundancy. Redundancy masks problems in the best of ways, much like the physical masks that are such a lightning rod in our culture today.
Peace (September 13, 2021)
Do you feel a lack of peace in life? We’re starting a series exploring Psalm 4 at Little Hills, thinking about true peace. This week: what about situations when we are humiliated and attacked?
52 Verses, 52 Books, 52 Weeks (Week 37: Lamentations)
We face tragedies that affect all of society (like 9/11) and ones that simply impact us. What do we do when we face them? How do we turn to the Lord in those moments?
Remember the Donkey (September 6, 2021)
When God places donkeys in our lives, do we pay attention? Or do we convince ourselves that our actions don’t really matter and so we can do whatever we want?
52 Verses, 52 Books, 52 Weeks (Week 36: Philemon)
Don’t let people just float by you in life! Pastor Tim turns to Philemon on this Labor Day weekend to think about the value God sees in each and every person.
Donkeys Like Us (August 30, 2021)
As we continue exploring the story of Balaam, a man who teetered between listening to the Lord and listening to the world around him, we consider how God uses people (and donkeys) like us.
52 Verses, 52 Books, 52 Weeks (Week 35: Ezra)
Are we simply knowing God’s Word or have we learned how to do what God’s Word calls us to do?
10 Years Ago
I can’t believe it was 10 years ago today I started my position teaching at Lindenwood. I truly loved my time teaching in the classroom there; I always miss it this time of year. I’m thankful to still be in touch with many of you who were my students and colleagues — friends — those five years were a treasure! I’m excited for what’s next with Little Hills Church, which is still very much intertwined with that part of St. Charles, which God always seems to lead me back to in ministry.
Fellow Pastors, Weigh Principles Before Writing Vaccine Exemptions
I’m very concerned about so-called “religious exemptions” to the COVID vaccines. Quite frankly, no one has shown me a legitimate Scriptural basis. In this piece I tackle the subject and ask pastors to consider placing commitment to Biblical truth over what will appeal in the moment to some potential congregants:
While it is a minority of churches thus far, in some cases, it has taken the appearance of a “religious exemption mill.” Some churches promise anyone who attends access to such paperwork, despite having no preexisting teaching opposed to vaccines.
Cynically, I’ll confess some of this smells of an attempt at free publicity for churches, while other examples I’ve read seem more like pastors fearfully bending to avoid conflicting with members’ passionate political (not religious) beliefs. But, to cavalierly stamp “this is what we believe” on an issue for publicity or appeasement threatens all of us who advocate for genuine religious liberty.
The Donkeys of Life (August 23, 2021)
Talking donkeys? Paid prophets? What’s going on here? Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22) help us to think about facing temptations and living faithfully as we start a new series tonight. In the series, we’ll look at this man who teetered between listening to the Lord and listening to the world around him and see the ways we struggle with the same.
