Posts with the tag “church-community-downtown-kc”

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.As I...  Read More

This past weekend I was out of town for a wedding, and after the rehearsal dinner in the historic Stockyards, some friends and I were driving back to our hotel. Now, the Stockyards are all charm and c...  Read More

Do you remember the COVID days when we all suddenly became experts in things we had never cared about before? Many of us tried gardening only to discover it's much easier to go to the city market. We ...  Read More

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.By early evening, things are already hopping. Peopl...  Read More

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.This week has already been a sacred journey for many...  Read More

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...  Read More

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,...  Read More

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.A few days ago, I was o...  Read More

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 getti...  Read More

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.But about five minutes...  Read More

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 ...  Read More

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 t...  Read More

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, alm...  Read More

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 poss...  Read More

 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 con...  Read More

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 s...  Read More

Several years ago, on our annual men’s float trip, my boys and I, along with a small army of other men and their sons, found ourselves in a situation that felt straight out of a Discovery Channel spec...  Read More

Some weeks feel like a sitcom… and other weeks feel like a sitcom that forgot to hire writers ?. Our recent adventure with the Health Department definitely lands in that second category.As many of you...  Read More

 Happy Friday! After fixing a car recently, my mind went back to 1986, when I bought my very first car: a 1986 Mazda 323 Sedan. I paid $600 cash, and when I drove it home, it felt like a dream…a wobbl...  Read More

 It seems a small army of flies has declared squatter's rights in my office. They’re fast, sneaky, and apparently on some kind of top-secret mission to test my patience. Every time I think I’ve caught...  Read More

 Last Friday, Leigh-Ann and I hit the road for a wedding in Wisconsin. We had the whole plan figured out, watch Sophia’s soccer game in Warrensburg, stop overnight in Springfield, IL, and make it to P...  Read More

Recently, our middle child and oldest son, Dallas, reached a major milestone. He officially got his driver’s license. After riding scooters all over downtown, golf carts, six months of driving on a le...  Read More

This past Saturday, my three boys and I grabbed a close friend and headed out for a round of golf. We decided to play a scramble on a par-nine course, and honestly, it was a blast!Not because we’re gr...  Read More

It’s been a fun (and slightly humbling) week at our house with my mom in town for a visit!She’s been spending time with the boys, playing Mille Bornes and Skip-Bo (and let’s just say, she’s still got ...  Read More

This past week, Leigh-Ann and I were invited to a Sporting KC game with a close friend who was in from out of town.We had a blast!The atmosphere, the energy, the chants, the fact that our seats were i...  Read More

This week, as I was moving some books around into my new office, I found something that made me stop and smile, a tiny sticky note from our oldest daughter, Alexa.It says: “I love you, Daddy! ? I hope...  Read More

This week, Ian (our youngest son) and I took a quick road trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for some good old-fashioned father-son bonding. We had a blast!We went to talk about what it means to grow into a man...  Read More

This past Saturday, my brother Todd, our middle son Isaiah, and I hit the Swope Park mountain bike trails, eager to conquer a new path. Everything was going great until I hit a steep climb and SNAP!My...  Read More

This past weekend marked a historic event in the life of New Life CityChurch…our 5th Annual Kickball Tournament, also known as the Hunger Games for people who used to be athletic.As expected, it was c...  Read More

A few months ago, we had some surprise guests move into our front door Easter wreath. Somehow, they decided our front porch would be a great place to raise a family. And honestly, I don’t blame them, ...  Read More

After 22 weeks of setting up in borrowed spaces (or as we affectionately call them, Church Airbnb's), we finally had our first Sunday back in our newly remodeled home…and it felt GREAT.Over the past s...  Read More

This past weekend, nearly 40 of us hit the road for our Men’s Campout and Float Trip down at the Big Elk River. The weather couldn’t have been better with sunshine, cool breezes, and very few mosquito...  Read More

Our dog Gratzi is, without a doubt, my favorite family pet so far. She’s well-behaved, loyal, and, best of all, she loves just being with us. Most mornings, the moment she hears the front door open, s...  Read More

Earlier this week, I was feeling like my margins were pretty thin… another week of juggling building inspections, navigating temporary meeting locations, and doing my best to wear all my God-given hat...  Read More

When I first met Leigh-Ann, I knew she had a heart for children. What I didn’t realize was that she had been dreaming of running an orphanage since she was a little girl. (I thought she meant, like, i...  Read More

This past week, our youngest son, Ian, participated in his Taekwondo testing. If you've spent more than five minutes around him lately, you’ve likely seen a flying kick whiz past your face or heard th...  Read More

There’s something powerful about a meal shared around the table.Now, I’ll be honest…Leigh-Ann always makes incredible food. Whether it’s a normal weekday dinner or a holiday spread, she somehow nails ...  Read More

Easter weekend is here, and our house is officially full…and loud. Leigh-Ann and I are soaking it up. Our oldest daughter flew in from Florida, our second came home from college, and our three boys (h...  Read More

This week, Pastor Jeff and I were back on set filming another episode of Church Improvement, our little behind-the-scenes show giving you updates and laughs from the auditorium remodel. Things have be...  Read More

 If you’ve ever tried to build something…whether a bookshelf, a budget, or a backyard shed that didn’t quite turn out level, you know that building takes time, effort, and a clear plan.The same is tru...  Read More