We’ve all heard the story of Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree. In fact, just the mention of his name is probably enough to bring the Sunday School jingle to your mind. I’ve always enjoyed the story, but only until recently have I realized how illogical it is. Zacchaeus was basically a 1st-century gangster. As a tax collector, he would’ve...
Growing up my nightly bedtime routine consisted of pulling down my black leather King James Bible and turning to Psalm 23 (I had heard that Psalm recited at several funerals, so I knew it had to be important). I eventually memorized it, but the truth of it never seeped into my heart. I would pull out my Bible every night and then somehow manage to...
It was a few years ago when I first felt God put the idea of ministry on my heart. I was a little surprised. I had never really pictured myself working at a church. But, I was pretty sure God was speaking to me, so I decided to stay open to the idea. During this season, my ears became attuned to the Christian buzzword “calling.” It...
I’ll never forget the first time my wife told me she wanted to give an offering at church. It’s been several years ago, but I can still remember the gut turning nausea it induced. At the time we were tithing faithfully, both actively involved in volunteer roles, and offering our help whenever possible. In other words, I thought we were doing...
With a two-year-old toddler running around our house, my wife and I now have nightly routine that looks like washing bottles, picking up dirty diapers, and stowing away plastic toys. As you can guess, this isn’t the most exciting or enjoyable part of our day. This coincidentally is also when many of our arguments take place. With the...
It’s that time of year again. This weekend is Easter, which means you’ll likely be participating in your fair share of pastel family photos, Easter Egg Hunts, and post-church family dinners. This also means you’ll likely listen to a sermon, read a social media post, or participate in a church service focusing on the death and resurrection...
I’ll pray for you — you’ve said it, I’ve said it, we’ve all said it. There’s nothing wrong with saying you’ll pray for someone, especially if you sincerely will. But far too many times I’ve seen this used as an excuse for apathy rather than a show of empathy. It’s something I’m personally guilty...
“Tyler… Tyler… TYLER.” No, that line you just read wasn’t me practicing the spelling of my name. That was a direct quote from my wife as she tried to get my attention recently as I was looking down at my phone. I’m not sure if it was email, social media, or a text message from a friend — it doesn’t really matter...
I try to read the Bible every day, usually before getting started with anything else. I’m not perfect at it, and if I’m being honest, a lot of times I read it too fast and I overlook the richness of God’s Word. Lately, I’ve been reading through the Psalms and as I was on my way to brushing past the depth and divine nature of scripture...
