Dallas and I have been in Salt Lake City this week for a soccer tournament, and it has been an unforgettable trip. Today we won the semifinal game and are headed to the finals, which means Dallas is feeling unstoppable and I am pretending I haven’t aged ten years in four matches. Only one game has gone to a PK shootout, but there have been several moments when my heart rate was high enough to qualify as its own cardio workout.

My love language is acts of service, which is a polite way of saying I feel deeply loved when someone helps me get things done. With three boys ages 17, 15, and 13, the opportunities for that kind of affection show up often. It is amazing how quickly quality time becomes an opportunity to work on the honey-do list. They each have different personalities and strengths, but they are each learning how to work hard, and nothing delights me more than seeing them jump into a project together.

While growing up, Leigh-Ann and her family had a friend over to their home, and after dinner, they all went out to play whiffle ball. Because their friend didn’t move as fast as he used to, he asked Leigh-Ann to be his designated runner.

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, which means restaurants will overflow and Moms will finally get the public recognition they deserve for doing the things they do every other day of the year.

 This past week, I had the chance to watch our daughter play soccer, and I found myself smiling more than I expected. Not just because of the goals or the hustle, but because of the team itself. A few years ago, many of these girls were competing against each other on different high school and club teams. There were rivalries, strong opinions, and I can remember a few moments where the rivalry wasn’t friendly at all ?.

Most days after being at church, I begin what I like to call my weekly sanctification test…also known as the drive home through downtown Kansas City.

As we find ourselves in the quiet weight of Good Friday, there is an invitation before us, not to rush ahead, but to linger…to slow down…to reflect.

Every year, as Holy Week approaches, there are a few behind-the-scenes traditions that quietly take place around the church. Prayer guides get printed. Communion elements get ordered. Stations are set up, and my new favorite…retrieving (not rolling out ?) the barrels.

Several weeks ago, our oldest son decided he’s done living a “normal” life.

He’s on a quest now.

Not like “clean your room” quest…but real quests, exploring, discovering, making memories ?.

And honestly, I love it.

So, to fuel his creativity (and maybe earn a few parenting points), Leigh-Ann and I got him a drone for his birthday.

Which means…we are now a family learning how not to accidentally land expensive technology on a highway or in a lake.

A few days ago, we took it out to a park to practice. And flying the drone is pretty incredible. One minute, the drone is hovering just a few feet off the ground, giving you this up-close, detailed perspective. The next minute, it’s way up high, showing a bird’s-eye view that completely changes how everything looks.

Same park. Same people. Totally different perspective.

At one point, we looked at the footage and realized things that felt ordinary from the ground looked purposeful from above. Paths connected. Space made sense. Even us standing there looked like we actually knew what we were doing (which, for the record, is questionable).

It’s amazing what a change in perspective can do.

This Sunday, Cooper Chavis (our Youth & College Director) is opening up Luke 2:36–40 and showing us something we often miss…God is in the business of restoring His people.

In these verses, we meet Anna, a woman whose life, on the surface, could easily be defined by loss, waiting, and what might feel like a “less-than” story. But from God’s perspective? Her life is a testimony of faith, devotion, and restoration. She sees Jesus and recognizes exactly who He is because she’s been faithfully looking for God all along.

From ground level, life can feel fragmented. Disconnected. Maybe even disappointing.

But through faith, through the lens of God’s promises and the person of Jesus, we begin to see differently.

We begin to see that God is restoring our faith and testimony. All this happens through Jesus, who came to bring us back to God. Sometimes what we need most isn’t a change in circumstance…

…it’s a higher view of what God is already doing.

And trust me, you won’t want to miss this one. Also, in what may be the most compelling theological argument I can offer, there will be pancakes. Our students are hosting a fundraiser to support their mission trip to the Dominican Republic this summer, so come hungry, come ready to support, and come expectant for what God is going to do.

I can’t wait to hang out and learn with you on Sunday. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Have a great weekend,
Troy
P.S. Tomorrow morning from 8-9 am, we are hosting a worldview and cultural training for those interested in serving with our Spanish-speaking service.… And we also have our men’s breakfast from 9-10 am. It’s going to be a great weekend!
 

Kansas City weather has a sense of humor. The kind where you start wondering if the Lord has assigned a group of angels to rotate random weather settings just to keep us humble.

Last Friday night at our house, Leigh-Ann and I finally settled in for the evening with two of the boys. We had popcorn popped, and the recliners leaned back in their fully committed “we are not getting up again tonight” position. We had just started a movie and were ready for a quiet, relaxing evening.

I don’t love running. There, I said it. My lungs usually scream in protest, my legs beg me to stop, and I spend most of the run wondering why I ever thought this was a good idea.

Growing up, my family was firmly in the “outdoor pets only” camp. We never had a dog, never had a cat, but for some reason, we had rabbits. Multiple rabbits. And of all the bunnies that cycled in and out of our household, the undisputed champion was Sylvester.

Early one morning a few weeks ago, we made our way to the Taj Mahal. I had imagined a quiet, majestic approach. Maybe a gentle sunrise. Maybe soft music in the background. Instead, we climbed into a tuk tuk that bounced and weaved through traffic like a barrel dropping over Niagara Falls. By the time we pulled up to the entrance, we were greeted not by serenity but by dogs, cows, and more monkeys than I was ready to negotiate with before breakfast.

Last Saturday, at an hour of the morning when no human being should be awake, I was dragging myself through the Paris airport on my way home from India. I looked up from my zombie walk, and there, almost (but not really ?) like an angel, was Steve McCoy. Yes, the very same Steve who will be speaking here this weekend. Apparently, God thought it would be more memorable if we bumped into each other on a different continent instead of Kansas City. When the Lord wants to set up a meeting, He does not bother with small things like geography.

I am just returning from India and awaiting my final flight into Kansas City. I am still adjusting from being overstimulated by people everywhere, testimony of Christian persecution, and the traffic patterns that rely on horns and some sort of innate ability to stop on a dime, accelerate across multiple lanes of traffic, and dodging pedestrians. Before I left, everyone who had been there gave me a knowing smile. Now I understand why.

The trip made a deep impact. I learned staggering facts about unreached people groups in Northern India. Millions have never heard the name of Jesus. I was honored to meet around 60 to 70 pastors and ministry leaders and listen to their stories of sacrifice and perseverance. Many lead multiple churches and travel by bike or on foot for hours to reach their villages. Their joy and dedication are definitely next level.

I saw the Taj Mahal and multiple other Temples’ Mosques and Forts. The architecture and attention to detail truly is breathtaking. Yet, the beauty hides a tragic story. The Taj was built by the 5th Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his late wife. However, his own son placed him under house arrest after killing three of his brothers. The structure stands as a reminder that the greatest works of human hands cannot erase the brokenness in the human heart.

Then there was the traffic. I truly enjoyed riding through weaving and braking drivers. We rode in a tuk-tuk and even took a high-speed train ride. I still cannot explain how we survived. Picture a sea of people, a literal symphony of horns, and an unspoken understanding that lanes are optional. That is India.

One of the most moving moments came when I viewed a lesser-known, 3D embroidery of The Good Shepherd. A Muslim artist named Shams Uddin created it after a dream he had about Jesus. It took him 18 years to complete the piece, and he became blind shortly after he finished it. The artwork is stunning, and the story behind it is even more powerful.

Then on the way home, I ran into Steve and Carrie McCoy in the Paris airport of all places. After a long flight, it felt like a gift from God to see familiar faces. And yes, I held a cobra. There is a long story there ?.

Travel opens my eyes and shrinks my pride. The world is enormous. We are small. God cares for people we will never meet. One pastor told me that when he introduced Jesus to someone in a remote village, the man asked if Jesus was a type of food. That moment increased my burden for those who have never heard.

This Sunday, we will study Luke 1:39-45 and see that God’s eternal plan offers joy now and forever. Mary experienced it. Elizabeth experienced it. We can experience it too. I have plenty of stories to share, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Troy

I hope your week is going well and you are fully prepared for the impending blizzard. Our staff, elders, and deacons just returned from our leadership retreat, which began with a three-hour drive that, thankfully, we all survived. A few years ago, we attempted the same trip in a snowstorm like the one heading our way this weekend, and let’s just say it wasn’t the most relaxing experience. I think a few are still experiencing stress from sliding around on the hills. This time? Dry pavement and a relaxing drive for all.

This week’s sermon is going to be a good one. Pastor Dave will be preaching from Luke 1:26–33 about Jesus, our Invincible King. Jesus is more than able to see us through every step of the journey He leads us on.

I hope your week is going well. While preparing for Sunday, I was reminded of a story in our church’s history that captures the strange and wonderful way faith and doubt fight for space inside our minds.

This past Sunday, right after church, our family loaded up the van and headed for Minnesota to spend Christmas with my parents. Because it had been so warm, I hadn’t thought much at all about the possibility of a blizzard.

Our staff Christmas lunch this week was another reminder of how much joy God gives His people. Leigh-Ann delivered her famous sliders and soup, comfort food that could probably calm international conflict, and so good it should require a witness and a notary.

This past week, I had the chance to take our oldest son, Dallas, to a soccer tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. The weather was absolutely perfect, and there were a few days when I even hurt a bit from sunburn. Leigh-Ann loved it when I called to let her know it was 75 degrees…Just trying to be a good dad ?.