Posts with the tag “churches-crossroads”

One week ago, at the moment I am writing, our oldest daughter, Alexa, was walking down the aisle. As I type out these words, I can almost replay every step in my mind. It was a beautiful and emotional...  Read More

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 f...  Read More

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 L...  Read More

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

 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...  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

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

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

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 p...  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

This Christmas break, our household took on a project that, depending on who you ask, was either a memorable family bonding experience or a slow descent into puzzle-induced madness.Dallas won a 1,000-...  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

 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

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 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

Our youngest is officially a teenager.Unbelievable!This week, Ian turned 13 and celebrated with a a trip to the pool, the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon, Jay’s Chicken, enough sides t...  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

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

 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

On Wednesday, Leigh-Ann and I took the boys to watch the Mizzou vs. Alabama basketball game, and let me tell you…it was an experience. Thanks to a really good coach, we had some really good seats. And...  Read More

If you’ve ever watched kids play sports, you know it’s an adventure. Over the years, our kids have played everything from soccer to basketball, football to taekwondo. We’ve cheered from the sidelines,...  Read More

This week marks a BIG moment for our New Life family: the fourth phase of our building remodel is officially underway. As I walked through our now-demoed auditorium and kitchen, I couldn’t help but fe...  Read More

Yesterday, we took the kids skiing for the first time. If you’ve ever introduced beginners to the slopes, you know it’s equal parts adventure and chaos…and plenty of stories to tell about Black Diamon...  Read More

Setting up for Christmas isn’t my favorite thing.At all.It means climbing into the attic and through the garage to retrieve trees, wreaths, lights, greens, linens, bins and bins of stuff, candles, orn...  Read More

It’s been about three weeks since Leigh-Ann and Ian had an unexpected adventure on Troost Avenue in Kansas City. This adventure involved a car accident, a traumatized dog, and plenty of calls to each ...  Read More

Today is Sophia’s 20th birthday….so first things first, Happy Birthday! ...  Read More

Since coming home for the summer, our daughter Alexa’s car hood has been looking pretty rough. The once sleek surface had become blotchy and, frankly, a bit embarrassing to drive around. With her upco...  Read More

Last night, when most of the world was asleep, Leigh-Ann had an unexpected encounter that left her heart pounding. She walked into our bathroom and was met with a sight that would send shivers down an...  Read More

I hope this message finds you well and excited about the latest developments in our church remodeling adventure! Phase Three has been quite the rollercoaster of demolition, surprises, and valuable les...  Read More

This past Monday, Alexa, Jaren and I had the honor of traveling to Wichita, Kansas, to attend and perform a wedding ceremony for mutual friends. After a smooth rehearsal, we found ourselves with some ...  Read More

What makes you happy?There are plenty of things that make me happy.This weather makes me happy – plus Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow. Early Spring is on the way! And if you want to get a litt...  Read More

I love experiencing a group of people who are unified…totally locked in with each other…moving toward a common goal…a big goal…and then experiencing a once-in-a-generation win.Don’t you?Consider “Mira...  Read More

This past week, our second daughter, Sophia was able to fly a plane for the first time. She is a Freshman at the University of Central Missouri where she is on the soccer team and also studying to bec...  Read More