I still remember receiving my first Bible in church. We were called up on the stage, the pastor said something (I don’t remember what), and then they handed me a brand new Bible. When I got home, I took a red marker and wrote my name really large on the inside just to make sure everyone knew it was mine. I still have it on my bookshelf today, as does my wife Jess.I think some people believe readin...  Read More

Week Four Discussion GuideIt has been written that "birds are something truly special. What other group of animals has such a widespread and beloved hobby dedicated to simply looking at them. There are birds on every continent and just about every human civilization that’s ever existed has grown up in a landscape filled with birds. It is no wonder, then, that so many cultures have assigned a great...  Read More

Yesterday, I, along with many of our staff, returned from the Leadership Institute, a large United Methodist conference hosted each year by Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City. This year, more than 1000 leaders from around the country gathered to worship, learn, and connect with one another.I had the opportunity to teach two sessions of a workshop entitled "Burnout: Sabbath, Rest, and Spirit...  Read More

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "Do one thing everyday that scares you. Those small things that make us uncomfortable help us build courage to do the work we do.” It was a bold way to look at stepping outside of a comfort zone.  That isn't easy for all of us.  Taking a leap of faith can be downright frightening, but sometimes those leaps lead to wonderful things.Icebreaker - Have you ever felt compell...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | Inside Voice - Week 2Welcome! Last week Pastor Matt Miofsky began a new sermon series called Inside Voice: A Study of the Holy Spirit. Part 1 of this series focussed on the Holy Spirit as Fire – a fire that refines, illuminates, empowers, and energizes our lives. As part of last week’s discussion, we watched a meditation video from Pastor Adam Baker. Take a few minutes at the beg...  Read More

This weekend is The Gathering’s golden birthday. We will turn 17 on September 17th. In honor of this milestone, I thought I would share 17 of my most memorable moments here at The Gathering. 1. The time I had to sit on the floor during an Easter service at Webster because both the sanctuary and overflow room were full.2. The Sunday I preached a message via video from the site of the very first wel...  Read More