Jesus faced betrayal from the disciples when they fell asleep while Jesus went to pray. Have you ever been in a situation far from your own understanding and you just want out? The people that said they would be there for you and by your side still don’t understand the sorrow in your heart that you deal with. Even the burden of your existence becomes too heavy for you to carry. In times like this,...  Read More

WelcomeEvery roller coaster experience starts with a first time walking through a maze to get to the loading platform (and you feel it start welling). Often, there's a line of other people waiting with lots of conversations happening (and it wells up more.) Eventually, you reach the end of the maze and it is from this platform that you board the train and get strapped in with safety bars (and now ...  Read More

Adoption can be filled with so much love and hope but it also inherently involves loss, something broken apart. Daxton became a part of our family as a newborn, even leaving the hospital with us. Despite his first mom's certainty about her choice and our elation at bringing him home, each of us acutely felt the pain involved. We traveled to be with her for his first birthday and this picture of th...  Read More

Last week, a guy in our church told me that he can’t wait for Easter. He said that it was two years ago on Easter Sunday that their family was invited and decided to give church a try. Since that time, their family has been through turmoil, seasons of celebration, and a lot of transition. But, the church has made a life-changing difference in their ability to weather it all and stay hopeful. It wa...  Read More

“After the rain” in St. Louis, MO.Joy in the midst of hard things... Matthew 21:1-11Entry into Jerusalem21 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything...  Read More

Finn's biggest joy moments happen on the swing, wind in his hair and smile consuming his face. I like to think Jesus might have looked similar riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, smiling big at all of the shouts of, "Hosanna!" Like Jesus, Finn's joy has consistently shown up in the midst of challenges. In fact, in many ways, Finn's life has been marked by challenge. Medically, Finn has endured over...  Read More