Tag: #Christianity

The Unnoticed Goodness

Thanksgiving has a way of slowing us down just enough to notice what’s been happening all along—the overlooked kindnesses, the small mercies, the quiet faithfulness that rarely makes headlines. It’s the season when we finally pause long enough to see the fingerprints of God on the ordinary. I mean, His presence is everywhere!

But here’s what’s been hitting me lately: some of the most powerful moments of goodness are the ones no one else ever sees.
No platform.
No applause.
No credit.
Just a quiet decision to do the right thing because it’s right.

Maybe it was the way you let someone go ahead of you in line, even though you were late.
Maybe it was the word of encouragement you sent that you thought was “no big deal.”
Maybe it was the prayer you prayed for someone who will never know your name.

Thanksgiving reminds us that gratitude isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we live. And when we live it quietly, faithfully, consistently… those moments echo. They ripple out further than we realize.

Scripture puts it simply:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Doing good when someone is watching is easy.
Doing good when no one sees—that’s where character is formed.
And often, those hidden acts are the ones God uses to shape someone’s story in ways we’ll never fully know this side of heaven.

You may think you’re just holding a door, paying for someone’s coffee, giving a quiet offering, sending a text, praying a prayer.
But perhaps the person on the receiving end was standing right on the edge—and your small act of unseen kindness pulled them back.

This Thanksgiving, maybe the most meaningful gratitude isn’t found around the table but in the unnoticed corners of everyday life… where God is shaping the world through ordinary people doing ordinary good.

Not for applause.
Not for credit.
But for the quiet joy of reflecting Christ.

Three Questions for the Soul

  1. If God is the only one who notices the good I do this week, is that enough for me?
  2. Whose story could be changed by one small, unseen act of kindness from me today?
  3. Do I want to be known as grateful—or do I want to be grateful in a way that genuinely changes the way I live?

May your Thanksgiving be filled not just with gratitude spoken, but gratitude practiced—quietly, faithfully, joyfully.

Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott.

0

Cast It ALL (Psalm 55:22)

Hey there, beautiful souls, Pastor Scott here, sorry it’s been a minute.
I have a few minutes today and I’ve been reading this verse today just meditating on it and perhaps you’re sometimes like me with what seems to be the weight of the world on your shoulders. This verse has gives me hope, and I think it will do the same for you.

Today, let’s lean ponder this verse full of promise hope and assurance because it’s something that resonates with me and with the kind of truth that can shift the air around us all. Lets dig into that verse. It’s Psalm 55:22.

It says, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Let that sink in for a second. “Cast your cares.” Not toss them lightly like you’re skipping stones on a lake, but “cast” them—like a fisherman throwing a net, like you’re heaving something heavy into the arms of someone stronger. There’s weight to this word. There’s intention here. There’s a letting go that feels like both surrender and strength. Life, right? It’s heavy sometimes. You’ve got bills stacking up, relationships fraying or just plain falling apart, dreams that feel like they’re slipping through your fingers. Maybe you’re carrying grief that’s too big for words, or anxiety that wakes you up at 3 a.m. with a racing heart. And here’s David, the poet-king, the guy who’s been betrayed, chased, and undone, whispering to us across centuries: “Cast it. Give it to God. He’s got you.” What’s wild about this verse is that it’s not just a command—it’s a promise. God doesn’t just say, “Hand it over.” He says, “I’ll sustain you.” That word, “sustain”—it’s not about a quick fix or a pat on the back. It’s about being held up, carried, nourished, like a plant getting just the right amount of water and light to keep growing.

It’s God saying, “I see the weight you’re carrying, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll hold you steady.” And then there’s that last bit: “He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Never. Not when the diagnosis comes, not when the job falls through, not when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control. The righteous—those who are chasing after God’s heart, who are trying, stumbling, and getting back up—aren’t promised a life without storms. But they’re promised a God who keeps them anchored through it all.

So, what’s the invitation here? It’s to stop clutching. To stop white-knuckling your worries like they’re yours to solve alone. What if you took that thing—the one that’s been keeping you up at night—and you just… let it go? Not because you’re giving up, but because you’re giving it “over”. You’re trusting that the God who made the stars, who knows every crack in your heart, is big enough to handle it. This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. David, the guy who wrote this psalm, was in the middle of betrayal and chaos when he penned these words. He wasn’t floating on a cloud of good vibes. He was raw, real, and probably a little scared. But he knew something we often forget: God’s not afraid of our mess. He’s not asking us to clean it up before we come to Him. He’s saying, “Bring it. All of it. The fear, the doubt, the anger, the questions. I can take it.”

What would it look like to cast your cares today? Maybe it’s a prayer whispered in the car on your way to work. Maybe it’s writing down that thing you’re afraid to name and leaving it on the page, an offering of trust. Maybe it’s just sitting still for a minute and saying, “God, I don’t know how to let this go, but I’m trying.”

There’s freedom on the other side of casting. There’s a lightness, a steadiness, a knowing that you’re not alone. Because the God who sustains you? He’s not just powerful—He’s personal. He’s close. He’s got you, right here, right now, in the middle of whatever you’re facing. So, let’s ponder this together, friends. What’s the weight you’re carrying? What’s the care you need to cast? And what might happen if you trusted—really trusted—that God’s got you, that He’ll sustain you, that He won’t let you be shaken?

Questions to Chew On Today:

1. What’s one care you’re holding onto right now that feels too heavy to carry alone? What would it look like to cast it onto God?

2. When you hear “He will sustain you,” what does that stir in you?
Do you believe God can hold you up, even in the messiest parts of your life? Why or why not?

3. What’s one small step you can take today to let go of control and trust God with your worries?

4. How might your life feel different if you truly believed you wouldn’t be shaken, no matter what comes?

Keep pondering, keep casting, keep trusting.
You’re not alone in this.
-Grace and peace, Pastor Scott

0

Rooted and Resilient

So, Jeremiah 17:7-8. Let’s just sit with it for a minute, shall we?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought nor ceases to yield fruit.”

You know, there’s something in us, isn’t there? This innate desire to be, well, unshakeable. To be that person who can weather any storm. To not just survive, but to thrive, even when everything around us feels like it’s drying up.

And here’s Jeremiah, pointing us to it. He’s not talking about some magic formula or a special incantation. He’s talking about trust. Simple, profound trust.

Think about that tree. Not just any tree, but a tree planted by the water. It’s not just getting a sprinkle every now and then; it’s rooted in the source. Its roots, they’re not just scratching the surface; they’re digging deep, reaching out, finding that constant flow.

And because of that deep connection, what happens?

“It does not fear when heat comes.”

That’s a big one, isn’t it? The heat comes for all of us. The pressure, the stress, the unexpected curveballs. The moments where you feel like you’re just wilting. But this tree? It doesn’t fear. Its leaves are always green. Think about that. Even when the world around it is parched, this tree is vibrant. It’s alive.

“It has no worries in a year of drought.”

Drought. We know drought. The times when everything feels scarce, when inspiration dries up, when relationships feel strained, when the bank account looks a little thin. Those long stretches where you just wonder if anything good will ever come again. But this tree? No worries. Because its roots are still doing their thing, silently, consistently, drawing from that underground source.

“Nor ceases to yield fruit.”

This is the kicker, right? Not only does it survive, not only does it stay green, but it continues to produce. Even in the lean times, it’s still giving. It’s still contributing. It’s still being what it was made to be.

So, what does this mean for us?

It’s an invitation, really. An invitation to examine where our roots are going. Are we trying to draw life from superficial things? From approval? From endless striving? From the fleeting highs of immediate gratification? Because those things, they dry up. They just do.

Or are we willing to dig deeper? To send our roots down into something more substantial? Into trust. Into a quiet, consistent confidence in the divine, in the very source of life itself.

It’s not about avoiding the heat or the drought. They’re going to come. But it’s about how we’re rooted in them. It’s about cultivating that deep, unwavering connection that allows us to not just endure, but to flourish. To stay green. To keep yielding fruit, even when the world around us is screaming for us to wilt.

So, where are your roots going today? Just something to ponder. Something to sit with. Maybe even something to dig into.
Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott.

0

Liminal Space – A Refilling of Grace.

Hey there, friend.
Let’s talk about liminal spaces. You know, those weird, in-between places where you’re not quite *here* anymore but not fully *there* yet either? Doorways, thresholds, moments where the veil between you and the divine feels so thin it’s like you could reach out and touch it. The Celts called these “thin places,” spots where heaven and earth brush up against each other, where you can almost hear the heartbeat of God. And I’m not just talking about physical places—though those are real too, like a quiet beach at dawn or that one pew in your church that just *feels* holy. I’m talking about those moments in life when you’re caught in transition, suspended, waiting, and something sacred sneaks in. Think about Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3. He’s just out there, tending sheep, minding his own business, when *bam*—a bush is on fire but not burning up. God says, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). That patch of desert wasn’t holy because of the dirt or the shrubbery. It was holy because God showed up in the in-between, in the ordinary, and Moses was paying attention. He stepped into a liminal space, a threshold where the eternal crashed into the everyday.

Or how about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)? He’s in this gut-wrenching moment, not quite at the cross but no longer just teaching and healing. He’s in the middle, sweating blood, wrestling with what’s coming. It’s a thin place, where his humanity and divinity are laid bare, where he’s crying out to God and the air feels electric with the weight of what’s about to happen.

Have you ever been in a moment like that?
Where you’re stuck between what was and what’s next, and God feels so close it’s almost too much? Liminal spaces aren’t always comfortable. They’re often disorienting, like standing in a doorway not sure if you’re coming or going. Think about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (Exodus 16-17). They’d left Egypt, but the Promised Land was still a dream. They were in-between, grumbling, doubting, yet God kept showing up—manna in the morning, water from a rock. Those desert years were a thin place, where they learned to trust, to lean into the mystery of a God who meets you in the messy middle. So here’s a question for you:

Where are the liminal spaces in your life right now?
Are you in a season of waiting—maybe for a job, a relationship, a diagnosis, or just some clarity? What if those in-between moments aren’t just empty gaps but holy ground, places where God is waiting to meet you? I mean, think about it: when you’re stuck in transition, when you don’t have all the answers, don’t you find yourself a little more open, a little more raw, a little more ready to hear that still, small voice? And here’s another thing to chew on: What if liminal spaces aren’t just about you finding God, but God finding you?

In Psalm 139:7-10, David says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” There’s no in-between place where God isn’t already waiting. That jobless season, that heartbreak, that moment when you’re staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m.—those are thresholds, thin places where the divine is whispering, “I’m here.” So, what’s it look like to lean into these spaces? Maybe it’s pausing in the middle of your chaos to breathe and say, “God, show me where you are in this.” Maybe it’s noticing the ordinary moments—a sunrise, a conversation, a quiet walk—and asking, “Is this holy ground?” What if you stopped rushing through the in-between to get to the “next thing” and instead let yourself linger, let yourself listen?

Here’s one more question to sit with: What’s keeping you from seeing the thin places in your life?
Is it fear? Distraction? The need to have it all figured out? What if you let go of that for a moment and just stood still, like Moses, sandals off, ready for God to show up? Liminal spaces are everywhere, friend. They’re the thresholds, the waiting rooms, the moments when you feel a little lost but a lot alive. They’re where God loves to show up, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. So, where’s your thin place today? And what might happen if you stepped into it, heart open, ready to meet the One who’s already there?

Keep your eyes open.
Holy ground is closer than you think.

Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott.

0

The Risks We Never Take And The Regret We Carry

You ever notice how life has this way of whispering to you, tugging at your soul, daring you to leap? It’s like there’s this quiet voice, this nudge, that says, Go for it. Step out. Try. But then, just as quick, another voice chimes in—louder, safer, more practical: What if you fail? What if it’s a mess? What if you look like a fool? And so, we stay put. We don’t move. We don’t risk. And years later, we’re left wondering: What if I had? This is about the risks we never take and the regret that lingers like a shadow when we refuse to step out in faith. Because here’s the thing: life isn’t meant to be a museum exhibit, preserved behind glass, untouched and unchanging. Life is messy, wild, and alive—it’s meant to be lived, not just survived. And sometimes, living means risking.

The Weight of What Could Have Been

Let’s start with a story. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells this parable about a man who gives his servants talents—bags of gold, essentially (Matthew 25:14-30). Two of them take the money, invest it, risk it, and double what they were given. But the third? He’s scared. He buries his talent in the ground, keeps it safe, and hands it back unchanged. No loss, but no gain either. And the master? He’s not impressed. He calls this servant “wicked” and “lazy.” Harsh, right? But here’s the kicker: the servant’s biggest failure wasn’t losing the money; it was refusing to risk it at all. That’s us sometimes. We’re handed gifts—talents, dreams, opportunities—and we bury them. Why? Because we’re afraid. Afraid of failure, afraid of rejection, afraid of the unknown. But what if the real failure is never trying? What if the regret we carry isn’t about the things we did and messed up, but the things we never dared to do? C.S. Lewis once wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

But dreams require risk.
Goals require movement.
And movement requires faith—faith that the God who made you didn’t make you to play it safe, but to step out into the wild, beautiful unknown.

The Pull of the Safe and the Siren of Regret

Think about it: what’s the risk you’re avoiding right now? That conversation you need to have but keep putting off? That career change you dream about but won’t pursue? That idea, that passion, that calling that keeps you up at night but feels too big, too scary, too out there? We tell ourselves we’re being wise, cautious, responsible. But sometimes, caution is just fear dressed up in a suit. The Bible doesn’t exactly endorse a life of playing it safe. In Hebrews 11, we get this roll call of faith—people like Abraham, who left everything to go to a land he didn’t know (Hebrews 11:8). Or Moses, who stood up to Pharaoh, risking everything for a people who didn’t even appreciate him (Hebrews 11:24-27). These weren’t people who buried their talents. They stepped out, trusting that God was in the risk, that God was in the leap.

And here’s the thing: they didn’t have guarantees. Abraham didn’t have a map. Moses didn’t have a five-year plan.
They had faith.
Faith that the God who called them would show up. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens.” The future is calling you, but you’ve got to step toward it.

The Regret That Haunts

Now, let’s talk about regret. Regret is the ghost of risks not taken. It’s the ache of what could have been. Studies show that people don’t regret their failures as much as they regret their inactions. Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse, wrote in her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying that one of the most common regrets she heard was this: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” Yikes! That hits doesn’t it?

Regret is what happens when we let fear win. When we choose safety over faith. When we bury our talents instead of risking them. And the tragedy? We don’t just rob ourselves; we rob the world. Your gifts, your voice, your story—they’re not just for you. They’re for others. For the people who need what only you can give. As Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). But a light that’s buried? It doesn’t shine.

Stepping Out in Faith

So, what do we do? How do we take the risk? How do we step out when our knees are shaking and our palms are sweaty? First, we remember that faith isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the courage to move through it. As Mark Twain put it, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” Faith is saying, I’m scared, but I’m going anyway.

Second, we trust that God is in the risk. The Psalms tell us, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). But here’s the part we forget: the shepherd also leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. Faith doesn’t mean we avoid the valley; it means we trust the shepherd to guide us through it.Finally, we start small. You don’t have to quit your job and move to Timbuktu tomorrow. Take a step. Write the first page of that book. Have that hard conversation. Sign up for that class. Risk something. Because the alternative—staying stuck, staying safe—leads to a life half-lived. And you were made for more than that.

The Invitation

So here’s the invitation: don’t let regret write your story.
Don’t let fear bury your talents. Step out. Risk. Trust.
The God who made you is the God who calls you, and He’s not calling you to a life of safety but to a life of faith.
As the great theologian Frederick Buechner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” But you’ll never find that place if you don’t take the risk.

What’s the risk you need to take today? What’s the leap your soul is begging you to make? Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because perfect moments don’t come. Step out in faith, and let the future unfold. Because the only thing worse than failing is never trying at all.

So, what’s it gonna be? Will you bury your talent, or will you risk it? The choice is yours, but the world is waiting for your light.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Scott.

0

Rediscovering Thin Spaces In Our Spiritual Journey.

Hey friends, it’s been a minute since I last wrote.
Summer months are often a mass acceleration of busyness and mundane tasks – and yet, they still need to be done.
Can I admit something to you? Well, it’s not really a secret, but it’s more of an identifiable internal struggle. Here it is: I often get restless and unsettled in life. It’s nothing substantial to a point that I can identify why or what’s causing it, but rather it’s root deep in my soul and I have to perform a spiritual workout to uproot it, and get to the bottom of it all.

I think you can relate in some way.
Life is often like that for all of us, from time to time.
One day things are going great, the next something is gnawing at your soul and you’re not sure just what it is.
You awaken in the middle of the night – sleep disrupted and then you commence the wrestling match with your pillow and blanket, all the while subconsciously you’re in a space of disruption, anxiety and emotional chaos.

There’s a verse the comforts me in these times of disruption. It’s found in James 4:8. It says, “Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Clean up your hearts, you who want to follow the sinful ways of the world and God at the same time.“

The Thin Spaces
Our world is full of fast-paced, instant gratification. We want responses to our emails, phone calls, text messages NOW, and if a response doesn’t come quickly we get impatient. Could it be that this component of our instant-response culture drives us to transfer this concept onto our relationship with God? Actually, scratch that, it’s not a matter of “could be”, it’s more certain that that – it IS a fact – we expect God to respond as instantly as a text message from a close friend or spouse. But God doesn’t work like that. Yet, despite this unrealistic expectation about God, He shows us in our lives in unexpected ways.

Get this: Thomas Merton once said, “True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace. It can come to us ONLY as a gift, and not as a result of our own clever use of spiritual techniques.”


God draws near to us in the quiet moments we intentionally create for His presence. That’s what a thin space is all about. When we draw near, with expectation and a heart of worship, God also draws near to us. The problem is you can fake it until you make it with God. No one is that good of an actor. You cannot act the part and expect the same result as one who is approaching the Divine with humility, love, adoration and supplication. It’s not something that can be fabricated or simulated. God knows our hearts, and if we are to commune with Him within these thin spaces, we are to set aside every distraction, every god we have erected (whether knowingly or unknowingly) and come for relationship and nothing else.

“The grace of salvation, the grace of Christian wholeness that flowers in silence, dispels this illusion of separation. For when the mind is brought to stillness, and all our strategies of acquisition have dropped, a deeper truth presents itself: we are and have always been one with God.” –Martin Laird

When we constantly kneel before the altar of our hearts and lay bare with honesty our utter need for God in every aspect of our being, we make that thin space even thinner. This is both done through our supplication and humility as well as this undeserved gift of God’s fellowship that He alone can impart. These thin spaces exist not to glorify our holiness or elevate some over others, but for the weak to be nourished and strengthened.

Friends, do these thin spaces exist in your life right now? What needs to be surrendered and sacrificed so that you can draw near to God? Is it your constant screen time? Unhealthy relationships? Unhealthy boundaries? Whatever it is, surrender it today. Lay it down and dedicate some uninterrupted space and time to draw near to the Almighty.

“As your meditation becomes deeper it will defend you from the perpetual assaults of the outer world. You will hear the busy hum of that world as a distant exterior melody, and know yourself to be in some sort withdrawn from it. You have set a ring of silence between you and it; and behold! within that silence you are free.” –Evelyn Underhill

Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott.

0

Dear Pastors: Discipling in a Distracted, Noncommittal World.

Hey there, fellow pastors, I hope you know that you’re beautiful shepherds of souls, and I write this today to encourage you. Whether you’re a full-time pastor, lay leader or small group leader – this is all for you.
Distractions are everywhere. Phones are pinging, Netflix is dropping new seasons, and commitment? Well, commitment feels like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. People are ghosting small groups faster than you can say “fellowship potluck.” But here’s the thing: we’re not out of the game. The Spirit is still moving, and we’ve got a story to tell that’s bigger than any algorithm or attention span. So, for just a few minutes today, let’s dive into how we can disciple people today, right here, right now, with all the noise and the “I’m too busy” vibes. And let’s do it with some hope, because Jesus is the most important source of hope, love and connection that we have. He created the model for us to emulate.

1. Meet People Where They Are (Because Jesus Did)
Okay, so the world’s loud. TikTok’s got their thumbs scrolling, and half the folks in your church are mentally juggling soccer practice, work deadlines, and that new true crime paranormal podcast (okay, maybe that last one is just me). Trying to get them to commit to a weekly Bible study feels like herding cats in a windstorm. But check this out: Jesus didn’t wait for people to have their lives together before he invited them in. Do you remember Zacchaeus? Jesus met Zacchaeus up a tree, the woman at the well in the heat of the day, and Peter right there in his fishing boat. Scripture tells us: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19, ESV)Jesus went to where people were—messy, broken, distracted, skeptical—and he loved them right there. So, let’s do that. If your people can’t make it to a 6 p.m. study, try a 15-minute devotional podcast they can listen to on their commute. If they’re glued to their phones, send a group text with a verse and a question to spark some discussion. Meet them in the chaos. Start small. Maybe it’s a coffee shop conversation or a quick prayer via Zoom. The point is, don’t wait for them to show up polished and ready—go to their tree, their well, their boat. You’ve got this, because Jesus is already there, and the Holy Spirit has already prepared hearts and the path you should take.

2. Make It Real, Not Religious (I can’t emphasize this enough!)
Here’s a question: when did following Jesus become a to-do list instead of a way of life? Our culture’s allergic to commitment—people bail on dinner plans, let alone church membership. And honestly? A lot of folks see “discipleship” as another box to check, like signing up for a gym membership they’ll never use. But Jesus didn’t call people to a program; he called them to a relationship, to a life that’s alive. John 10:10 says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” So, let’s make discipleship less about filling out a workbook, following a 5-12 step program, and more about living the story. Share your own struggles—your doubts, be vulnerable, share your moments when you wonder if God’s still paying attention. Let them see you wrestle with faith, because that’s what makes it real. Invite them into practices that breathe life: gratitude journals, serving at a food pantry, or just walking in nature and talking about what God’s stirring in their hearts. Show them that following Jesus isn’t about adding more noise—it’s about finding the quiet where the Spirit speaks. You’re not selling a program, you’re not selling religion; you’re inviting them into a life that’s bigger than the distractions.

3. Build Community That Feels Like Family
Let’s be real: people are lonely. They’re scrolling their social media feeds, liking posts, but they’re starving for connection. We think these things will bring us closer but it actually makes us lonelier as we crave what someone’s highlight reel is displaying. Our culture’s got this weird paradox—hyper-connected online, but ghosting each other in real life. And churches? Sometimes we’re so focused on programs we forget to be people.

But discipleship happens in relationship, in the messy, beautiful, “pass the mashed potatoes” kind of way. John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Pastors, create spaces where people feel like they belong. Maybe it’s a small group that eats together, laughs together, cries together. Maybe it’s a barbecue where kids are running around and nobody’s pretending to have it all figured out. Encourage your people to share their stories—because when someone says, “Me too,” that’s where the Spirit starts knitting hearts together and we discover true commonality. And don’t be afraid to lean into the awkward. Community isn’t perfect; it’s real – you don’t have to be perfect. Lean into the awkward. It’s the guy who always talks too long, the mom who shows up late, the teenager who’s skeptical but still shows up. That’s where Jesus shows up too. Keep building those tables, and setting places be a pastor who holds the door wide open for everyone. Because in reality people are sacred to be vulnerable and open up.

4. Point to the Bigger Story
Here’s the thing about distractions: they’re loud, but they’re shallow. They promise meaning but leave people empty. And that’s where we’ve got something to offer—because the gospel is the deepest, truest story there is. In a culture that’s noncommittal, chasing the next shiny thing, we get to point people to a story that’s been true forever. The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 3:2 tells us “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Help your people see how their lives fit into God’s bigger story. Preach it, teach it, live it. When they’re stressed about work, remind them their worth isn’t in their hustle but in being God’s beloved. When they’re distracted by the news cycle, point them to the kingdom that never shakes, and that we’ve been created to be Kingdom people first and foremost.

Use stories—your stories, their stories, Jesus’ stories—to show how God’s weaving something beautiful even in the chaos. Maybe it’s a sermon series on how God meets us in the ordinary. Maybe it’s a testimony night where people share how Jesus showed up in their mess. Keep pointing to the Story that outshines the noise. It’s what they’re hungry for, even if they don’t know it yet.

5. Trust the Spirit (Because You’re Not Alone in This)
Okay, pastor, let’s get honest. Sometimes it feels like you’re shouting into the void. You plan the discipleship program, you pray, you prep, and still, half the group bails because of a kid’s soccer game or a Netflix marathon. It’s easy to feel like you’re failing, like you’re not enough. But here’s the truth: you’re not the one making disciples. The Holy Spirit is.

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” Your job isn’t to fix people or force commitment. Your job is to show up, love them, and trust the Spirit to do the heavy lifting. Plant seeds. Pray like crazy. Be faithful in the small moments. That conversation over coffee or pizza? That’s the Spirit at work. That time you listened to someone’s doubts without judgment? That’s the Spirit moving. Even when it feels like nothing’s happening, God’s doing something. You’re not alone in this, and you don’t have to carry the weight. The Spirit’s got this, and you’re just along for the ride.

So dear Pastor, Youth Pastor, Worship Leader Lay Leader, Small Group Leader here’s a quick word of encouragement for you: Keep Going, You’re Doing Holy Work!

So, here we are, pastoring in a world that’s distracted and noncommittal, where people’s attention is pulled a million ways. But you know what? The gospel’s still true. Jesus is still calling. And you, pastor, are part of the most beautiful story ever told. Meet people where they are. Love them. Make it real. Build community. Point to the bigger story. And trust the Spirit. You’re not just leading a church, or a small group—you’re inviting people into a life that’s more vibrant than any distraction could ever be. Keep going. Keep loving. Keep showing up. The Spirit’s moving, and you’re right in the middle of it. With you in the mess and the beauty,
Grace & Peace
–Pastor Scott.

Ps. What’s one way you’re seeing the Spirit move in your church’s discipleship efforts?
Share it below—I’d love to hear your story.

0

When Heroes Fall – Michael Tait, Sin, and the Long Road to Redemption.

Hey there, friends. I want to wrestle with some heavy stuff today. I was mulling it over and even deleted a couple of drafts before I settled on this one. You’ve probably seen the news by now—Michael Tait, the voice behind so many anthems that stirred our souls, has stepped into a spotlight none of us wanted to see him under. The former Newsboys frontman, a guy whose music shaped our faith playlists, confessed to a “double life” of substance abuse and sexual misconduct. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s heartbreaking. So, let’s talk about it—about sin, falling from grace, the consequences that linger, and the wild, stubborn hope of forgiveness and redemption. Because, friends, this is where the rubber meets the road in our faith. It’s often messy, I wont sugarcoat it, but I also think we have to talk about stuff like this, because sadly it’s so prevalent today.

The Fall Hurts

So, let’s not sugarcoat it: Michael Tait’s confession hit like a punch to the gut. This is the guy who belted out “God’s Not Dead” and made us feel like we could storm the gates of heaven with a guitar riff. But the allegations—sexual assault, grooming, drug and alcohol abuse—paint a picture of a man caught in a spiral of sin for two decades. Three men have come forward, sharing stories of pain and betrayal, moments where trust was shattered by someone they looked up to. One of them said, “To this day I jump whenever someone touches me unexpectedly… It’s heartbreaking to think someone you look up to could do something like that.” That’s not just a news headline; that’s a wound. It makes me both angry and sick to my stomach. Think of the lives of those who have witnessed this double life and the awful consequences of a seemingly phony testimony. Not only does it impact the victims – for it surely has ruined these men, but also the fans and people who have come to faith because of the ministry of Tait and the Newsboys. Where does that leave them? Disillusioned? Lost? Confused?

And here’s the thing about sin: it’s not just a private fumble, a little oopsie between you and God. Sin ripples. It breaks things. It leaves scars on others. Tait himself said, “I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life.” He’s not wrong. The Bible doesn’t pull punches on this either. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” When we sow seeds of sin, the harvest comes, and it’s often bitter. Tait’s facing that now—public shame, a tarnished legacy, and the very real pain of those he hurt.

The Weight of Consequences

Let’s pause here, because I think we sometimes want to rush past this part. We want to jump straight to the “forgiveness” part of the story, like it’s a feel-good movie montage. But sin has consequences, and they don’t vanish just because we say sorry. Tait stepped down from Newsboys in January, citing a “monumental and heartfelt decision” after prayer and fasting. But the truth came out later: he’d been living a double life, and the allegations that surfaced in The Roys Report forced him to confront it publicly. His bandmates, blindsided, said their “hearts were shattered” when they learned of his actions.

This is where 1 Timothy 5:20 hits hard: “But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” Tait, as a visible Christian leader, carried a weighty responsibility. His sin wasn’t just personal; it impacted a community, a fanbase, a movement. The consequences? A fractured trust, a band moving on without him, and victims carrying trauma that may take years to heal. Sin costs, friends. It always does. As Tait put it, “Sin is a terrible thing, taking us where we don’t want to go; keeping us longer than we want to stay; and costing us more than we want to pay.”

The Scandal of Grace

But here’s where the story takes a turn—not a cheap turn, not a glossing-over, but a real, gritty, beautiful turn. Tait’s confession, posted on Instagram on June 10, 2025, didn’t dodge the truth. He called his actions what they were: sin. He wrote, “By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I have lived a singular life—one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God.” He’s been in treatment, seeking help, and leaning into a circle of counselors and friends who are walking with him. That’s not nothing. That’s the beginning of repentance. Some of you reading this might be skeptical and worry his apology is all scripted or insincere. I would challenge, we do not know the heart of man, but God does. Let’s allow God to do the judging, for the consequences are already playing out for Tait.

And this is where the scandal of grace comes in. Psalm 51, the cry of King David after his own catastrophic fall, echoes here: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” David, a man after God’s own heart, was also a man who sinned big—adultery, murder, betrayal. Yet he threw himself at the mercy of God, and God didn’t turn him away. Tait referenced this psalm in his confession, and it’s no accident. Grace doesn’t erase consequences, but it offers a path through them. It’s the promise that even in our worst moments, God is still there, ready to meet us in our brokenness.

Redemption’s Long Road

So, what does redemption look like for someone like Michael Tait? It’s not a quick fix, friends. It’s not a press release or a single tearful apology. Redemption is a journey, and it’s messy. Tait’s been clean and sober since his time in a Utah treatment center, but he admits he’s got “lots of hard work ahead.” That’s real talk. Redemption means owning the wreckage, making amends where possible, and walking humbly with God and others. It means accepting that some relationships may never heal, some fans may never listen to his music again, and some wounds may linger.

But here’s the hope: God’s not done with Michael Tait. Or with you. Or with me. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s the heartbeat of the gospel—God’s love doesn’t wait for us to get it together. It meets us in the mess. Tait’s story isn’t over, and neither is ours. Redemption doesn’t mean the consequences disappear, but it means we don’t walk through them alone.

What Do We Do With This?

So, what do we do with a story like this? Do we cancel Michael Tait? Stop listening to Newsboys or DC Talk? That’s a question a lot of fans are wrestling with. I get it—it’s hard to separate the art from the artist when the betrayal feels so personal. But maybe the better question is: How do we hold space for both justice and grace? How do we pray for healing for the victims, accountability for the sinner, and restoration for all involved?

One X post I saw put it beautifully: “The Church? We’re called to forgive, not cancel. We’ve all sinned. Let’s be people of grace and truth.” That’s the tension we live in, friends. We don’t gloss over the pain or the consequences, but we also don’t shut the door on redemption. We pray for Tait, that he keeps walking this hard road of repentance. We pray for those he hurt, that they find healing from the “Merciful Healer and Hope-Giver,” as Tait called God. And we pray for ourselves, that we’d be honest about our own sin, quick to repent, and relentless in pursuing grace.

The Invitation

Here’s the invitation in all this: Don’t put people on pedestals. Not Michael Tait, not your pastor, not even yourself. We’re all capable of falling, and we all need grace. Tait’s story is a wake-up call, not just for him but for all of us. It’s a reminder that sin is real, consequences are real, but so is God’s mercy. As Jeremiah 3:22 says, “Return, you faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” God’s calling us to return, to lean into His mercy, and to walk the long, hard road of redemption together.

So, let’s keep praying, keep loving, and keep holding space for the messy beauty of grace. Because if God can redeem a guy like David, a guy like Tait, a guy like me—well, there’s hope for us all.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott

2

Stirring Up Love For Those Who Need It.

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Hey there, friend! It’s Pastor Scott, and I’m just sitting here with a cup of coffee at the airport, thinking about what it means to really show up for each other. I’ve been at a conference this week called “Belonging” and I’ve got to tell you, I felt like I did and as I visited with old friends I felt encouraged and loved.

You know, life can feel like you’re lost in the woods and there’s no one to help you —this life seems to constantly make us feel like we need to be rushing about, all the while life is swirling, pulling us in a hundred directions. And in the middle of all that, we’re called to be people who don’t just float along, but who paddle toward each other with purpose. That’s where Hebrews 10:24-25 comes in, like a beacon, a gentle nudge, a holy (in the translation of my 17 year old son)“Bruh, let’s do this together.”

Here’s the text, straight from the heart of Scripture:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)

Okay, let’s unpack this, because there’s something so important for us here. The writer of Hebrews is saying, “Hey, let’s think hard about how we can stir each other up.” Not stir up drama or chaos—nah, we’ve got enough of that. Stir up love. Stir up good deeds. It’s like tossing a pebble into a pond and watching the ripples spread. Your words, your presence, your actions—they ripple out, touching lives in ways you might not even see.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just about showing up to church (though, yeah, that’s part of it). It’s about showing up for each other in the mess of life. It’s about being the kind of people who don’t just coast through relationships but lean into them, and get curious, and ask, “How can I help you shine brighter?” The Greek word for “spur” here is paroxysmos—it’s a word that means to provoke or stir up, almost like a holy agitation. It’s not passive. It’s active, intentional, like poking a fire to make it blaze.

And then there’s that bit about “not giving up meeting together.” Some folks had started bailing on community, maybe because life got hard, or they got hurt, or they just got lazy. Sound familiar? We’ve all been tempted to pull back, to isolate, to think, “I’m fine on my own.” But the writer’s like, “Nope, don’t do it. You need each other. Keep showing up.” Why? Because when we gather—whether it’s in a sanctuary, a coffee shop, or a living room—something holy happens. We remind each other who we are. We encourage each other to keep going, especially as the “Day” (you know, the big one, when Jesus returns) gets closer.

So, what does this look like in real life? How do we spur and encourage each other in a way that’s real, not just slapping a smiley-face sticker on someone’s pain? It starts with paying attention. It’s about seeing the people around you—not just their faces, but their hearts. It’s about asking, “What’s stirring in you? What’s holding you back? How can I help you take that next step toward love and good deeds?”

Here are four questions you can ask yourself as you think about spurring and encouraging others. These aren’t just for you to ponder in your quiet time—they’re for the road, for the conversations, for the moments when you’re face-to-face with someone who needs a spark:

  1. Who in my life needs a nudge to keep going?
    Look around. Who’s weary? Who’s stuck? Maybe it’s your friend who’s been quiet lately, or the coworker who seems overwhelmed. How can you come alongside them with a word, a gesture, a moment of presence that says, “I see you, and you’ve got this”?
  2. What’s one specific way I can inspire love in someone today?
    Love isn’t abstract—it’s concrete. It’s a text that says, “I’m praying for you.” It’s dropping off a meal. It’s listening without fixing. Think of one person and one tangible way you can spark love in their life today.
  3. Am I showing up consistently for my community?
    Be honest. Are you in the habit of gathering, or have you been ghosting your people? Community isn’t perfect—it’s messy, sometimes awkward—but it’s where we grow. What’s one step you can take to lean back in?
  4. How can I celebrate someone’s good deeds without making it weird?
    People are doing beautiful things all around you—small acts of kindness, bold steps of faith. How can you call that out? Maybe it’s a note, a shout-out, or just saying, “I saw what you did, and it’s awesome.” Encouragement doesn’t have to be loud; it just has to be real.

Here’s the deal: spurring and encouraging isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or having all the answers. It’s about being present, being intentional, and believing that God’s already at work in the people around you. You’re not creating the fire—you’re just fanning the flames. And when you do that, when you stir up love and good deeds, you’re not just changing someone else’s day—you’re changing the world, one ripple at a time. Make sure the people you are reaching out to feel like they belong. Include them. Don’t just let them be spectators, but engage in friendships!

So, go out there and be a holy agitator. Stir something up. Show up. Encourage someone to keep running their race. And don’t be surprised when you find yourself encouraged, too. Because that’s how this works—we’re all in this together, and the Day is coming.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott

0

The Fleeting Vapor of Life.

Hey friends, today I am pondering how much vapor our lives contain.
The bible says our life is but vapor (James 4:14) – quick, fleeting, temporary – poof, and it’s gone.

So, I’m sitting here in the quiet, my heart a little heavier than usual today. I lost a friend recently—a mentor, a guide, someone who poured wisdom and laughter into my life like a river that never seemed to run dry. And yet, here we are, standing at the edge of that river, staring into the stillness where their presence used to ripple. Death has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? It stops us in our tracks, takes the breath out of our lungs momentarily, makes us look up from our calendars and coffee cups, and whispers, This life? It’s fragile. It’s fleeting. It’s a vapor.

James, that no-nonsense brother of Jesus, put it like this: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14, NIV). A mist. A puff of breath on a cold morning. Here one moment, gone the next. It’s not morbid to linger on this—it’s honest. It’s the kind of truth that shakes us awake, that begs us to ask:

What are we doing with this one, wild, temporary life?

When I learned yesterday that one of my mentors and friends passed, it felt like the ground shifted beneath me. Maybe you’ve been there too—when someone you love or admire slips beyond the veil, and you’re left holding questions bigger than your heart can carry. Why so soon? What comes next? And what does it all mean for the days we’ve got left? I want to lean into those questions together for just a few moments, because I think, in some way, they’re holy.
They’re the kind of questions that pull us closer to the mystery of God, to the heartbeat of eternity.

The Fragility of Now

Let’s start here: life is breakable. It’s delicate, like a clay jar holding something sacred. Paul, that wild-eyed apostle, called us “jars of clay” to show that the treasure inside us—God’s light, God’s love—is carried in something that can crack, chip, shatter (2 Corinthians 4:7). My friend’s death reminds me of that today. One moment, they were here—laughing, teaching, encouraging, challenging me to be better. Next, they were gone, and I’m left holding the pieces, wondering how something so vibrant could be so temporary.

But isn’t that the beauty of it? The fragility is what makes it precious. Every hug, every shared story, every quiet moment of prayer—it’s all a gift because it won’t last forever. The writer of Ecclesiastes gets it: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NIV). This life is a season, a chapter, a melody that rises and falls. And when someone we love steps out of this song, it doesn’t mean the music stops—it just changes key.

The Afterlife: A Door, Not a Wall

So what happens when the mist fades? When the jar breaks? When the melody shifts? That’s where the questions about the afterlife come in, and oh, they’re big questions. But here’s the thing: death isn’t a wall. It’s a door. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25, NIV). That’s not just a comforting platitude; it’s a promise that whatever lies beyond this life, it’s held in the hands of a God who loves us fiercely.

What’s on the other side? The Bible gives us glimpses, not blueprints. Streets of gold, a new heaven and new earth, a place where “God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4, NIV). But it’s less about the details and more about the One who’s waiting there. My friend, my mentor, my Grandparents, my Aunt Joy —they’re not gone, not really. They’ve stepped through the door into a reality more real than this one, where the love and laughter we shared here are just a shadow of what’s to come. It’s not some fairytale story, but rather a hope, a reality, an eternal promise.

The afterlife isn’t about escaping this world; it’s about this world being caught up in something bigger, something eternal. It’s about God saying, “I’m not done with you yet.” When I think of my friend and others who have recently made that transition, I imagine them laughing in a place where the colors are brighter, the joy is deeper, and the love is unending.
And that gives me hope.

Living the Temporary with Eternity in Mind

But what about us, the ones still here, breathing in this fleeting vapor? How do we live in a world where jars break and mists vanish? We live awake. We live open. We live like every moment is a chance to love, to forgive, to create something beautiful. Jesus told us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, NIV), which isn’t about ignoring this life but about infusing it with eternal weight. Every act of kindness, every prayer whispered in the dark, every time we choose love over fear—it’s all building something that outlasts the mist.

My friend’s life was like that. He didn’t just exist; he poured himself out. He listened well and pointed me (and others) toward a Jesus in a way that made me want to run toward Him. His sudden death doesn’t erase that—it amplifies it. It reminds me to live in a way that echoes into eternity, to hold loosely to the things that fade and cling tightly to the things that last.

So here’s my invitation to you, friends: let’s live like we’re made of mist.
Let’s love like we’re made of eternity. Let’s hold the people we love a little closer, forgive a little quicker, and chase the God who holds both this life and the next. Because this vapor? It’s fleeting.
But the One who breathes it into being?
He’s forever.

“The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us” (1 John 1:2, NIV).

Let’s proclaim it with our lives, every fragile, beautiful moment of them.

With you in the journey,
Pastor Scott

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑