I have been writing a weekly blog for a long time. I started a previous version of this in 2010, wrote for a few years, and then stopped writing but picked it back up in 2016 under the Grow Up Blog name. To date, I have written 692 posts! Some of it was good and... Continue Reading →

The greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God with all of our being. But, how do we know if we truly love God? An easy test for your love of God is whether or not you are ready to serve him. If you would rather have the emotional thrill of an effective worship... Continue Reading →

Last week, we discussed how the Cross helps transform us into mature believers. But what does the resurrection have to do with our Growing Up? First, there is no new life without the resurrection. For those that follow Jesus, our resurrection comes about because of Christ’s resurrection. Paul says, “I want to know Christ—yes, to... Continue Reading →

The Christian faith starts with the cross. There is no Christian faith without the crucifixion and Christ’s sacrifice of his perfect self to take away the sins of the world. But what does the crucifixion mean for our growth and maturity as a Christian, our Growing Up? First, the cross brings freedom. Salvation has been... Continue Reading →

The discipleship of Jesus means that I am learning from Jesus how to do what he does. If others are also learning this same thing then both of our efforts will naturally lead us to a similar place and unity and community are able to flourish.  If this is the case, why does it seem... Continue Reading →

I needed a church where I could soak in the love of God.  I needed a church where I didn’t need to be a fresh, young volunteer prospect.  I needed a church where I could participate in worship and the sacraments in a tangible and physical way. I needed a church that valued scripture, not... Continue Reading →

In May of 2019, I started to fast every Monday. At the time, I was fasting to bring seriousness and intention to something I was deeply praying for. But, as time wore on, it became a regular part of my weekly routine, like Leg Day or Pizza Night.  When I started, I fasted in response... Continue Reading →

Several years ago there was a reality show on Fox that I was really excited about. It was called Utopia and it was going to be like Survivor but the goal was less about one person surviving to the end and winning a million dollars and more about a group of strangers trying to create... Continue Reading →

“How does your worldview, or belief system, affect your decision making?”  I like this question because it is a very practical way of determining what people really believe. This question goes beyond mere words about belief and instead sheds light on whether an individual actually has beliefs that guide their actions. If I can’t point... Continue Reading →