51 Truths I have Learned in 51 Years

Today is my 51st birthday. My birthday present to you are these truths that I have learned during my 51 years of life.

1. If you go for the right reasons, God will get you to the right place.” — I heard Erwin McManus say this back in 2003, and it has been a guiding principle for my life ever since. Our motivations matter.
2. Every person is a theologian, whether consciously or unconsciously. What you believe about God shapes your worldview and the way you live. Take time to reflect on what you believe and why.
3. Humans are created in God’s image. This means we are to represent Him in everything we say and do.
4. The Lord of the Rings is the greatest story ever written.
5. No matter what team you cheer for there will be moments of exhilaration, frustration, hope, and despair. The key is to not let our emotions be dictated by the final score. Thankfully I have celebrated 3 championships for the Boston Celtics and 3 for the Denver Broncos during my time as a fan.
6. Smoking meat is a great hobby.
7. The Bible may not provide the answers to all the questions asked in our culture, but it does provide a framework that helps us create a Christian worldview.
8. I was 37 years-old when I married Jenny. It is totally worth waiting for the right person, even when there are moments you wonder if it will ever happen.
9. We are citizens of heaven first. Our mission isn’t to win elections but to make disciples and be a blessing to our community. This is how exiles of the Kingdom live in the world.
10. Dogs offer great companionship.
11. Hiking in the mountains is the best type of vacation. 
12. What we believe about God influences our decisions, values, and purpose in life. Don’t just follow the crowd—reflect deeply on your faith and how it shapes your path.
13. Growing up on a farm is a great life for a young boy.
14. The resurrection of Jesus is the central truth of Christianity. If it didn’t happen following Jesus wouldn’t matter. Because it did, there is nothing more important in life
15. Living a life of faith will naturally lead to living a counter-cultural life.
16. Being a life long learner is crucial to living a full life.
17. The Bible is an amazing book. I have grown to love it the more I read it, studied it, and learned about it. Taking time to get to know the Bible is worth the time and effort.
18. Smoking chicken is the best way to have chicken. The same can be said about turkey.
19. Northern Minnesota is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
20. “Those who know that God is on the throne and is in control of human affairs can remain calm amid the evils and sorrows of the world.” ~ John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church 
21. Ahsoka Tano is the best character in Star Wars, followed closely by Obi Wan Kenobi and Rex. This isn’t even debatable. 
22. God created us for community. We cannot fully reflect His image alone. It is only in community that we can be who He intends us to be. — Larry Crabb
23. Living with virtue makes us free from the consequences of bad choices that lead to our enslavement. When we are not enslaved we are free to help and serve those around us.
24. "If we don't allow scripture to challenge us at places where our culture is doing it's best to squeeze us into a different pattern, what use is it?" - N. T. Wright; Paul For Everyone: The Prison Letters
25. Our struggle isn't against people, but the spiritual forces that enslave us. Jesus came to set us free—our mission as the Church is to continue that work by loving our neighbors and making disciples. 
26. Hayden Fry is an underrated coach who produced a great coaching tree.
27. Even when Dad is in the room the kids will still ask for Mom.
28. A healthy relationship with God requires prayer. We are moved to pray when we understand who God is and his love for us. We will give God our worries and cares when we believe He loves us.
29. As Christians, our allegiance is to King Jesus, not political parties. When we engage in politics, our priority is to King Jesus and his mission of making disciples. 
30. Being a father is not only a rewarding experience, but also a learning experience. I have learned a lot about myself, following Jesus, and God’s love by being a dad.
31. One of the most powerful tools we have in spiritual formation is choosing. We are a product of our choices.
32. The most powerful political action a Christian can take is prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-4). We need to pray for our leaders that they govern with wisdom and justice. 
33. “For the follower of Jesus, servant leadership isn’t just an option, it’s a mandate.”— Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, The Servant Leader
34. The true hero of The Lord of the Rings is Samwise Gamgee. He is the one we should try to imitate.
35. Abiding fully means praying much. Prayer is the pulse of the spiritual life; it marks the outgoings of the heart towards God, and the incomings of divine power. Nothing can so effectively resist the devil as prayer. — Andrew Murray
36. Forgiving others is an extension of the forgiveness we have received from God, who, through Jesus, forgave our sins and opened the way for reconciliation to happen.
37. “However deep our sorrows or great our suffering, Jesus knows and cares.” ~ John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church
38. My life is better when I listen to Jenny.
39. Time is a precious resource, which means we need to be good stewards of it! Let's make the most of every moment and use our time wisely. We live wisely when we love God and love people.
40. We are all being formed spiritually, whether or not we are intentional about it. It is worth the time to be committed to our Christian Spiritual formation.
41. Being disciplined in how we live allows us to be good stewards of the miracle of salvation God has given for us.
42. The year 1913 was the worst year in United States history.
43. Our actions may not result in world peace or solve global hunger or diminish crime in our communities, but our choice to love, to forgive, and to serve can have a huge impact on those around us.
44. Larry Bird is the greatest basketball player of all time. His games transcends all different eras.
45. The true leader in the Church is the person who is loyal to Jesus. Doubts may come, hardships may arrive, and persecution may be present, but that leader remains committed to Jesus. No matter what, they will not forsake their King.
46. "The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth." ~ N. T. Wright, Simply Christian
47. A Batman and James Bond team up would make for a great movie.
48. We need to challenge ourselves. Doing hard things is crucial for our mental and physical health.
49. Ron Paul is the greatest politician of my life time.
50. A holy life is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
51. Smoked cream cheese is a great treat.

God With Us

During the Advent season, we’re invited to reflect on one of the most profound truths of our faith: God loves us!  This love is not abstract or distant, rather, it is personal, present, and powerful. It’s “God with us.”

The promise of Immanuel is not just a story for Christmas cards. It’s the bedrock of our hope, the anchor of our peace, the wellspring of our joy, and the ultimate expression of God’s love. Let’s explore together what this means for us today. 

The Promise of Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14 foretells the birth of Immanuel, meaning "God with us." This promise was given to King Ahaz during a time of fear and uncertainty, assuring him that God had not abandoned His people. While the immediate fulfillment pointed to deliverance in Ahaz’s time, the ultimate fulfillment came centuries later in Jesus Christ.

When life feels overwhelming, and circumstances seem to whisper that God is far away, Isaiah 7:14 reminds us otherwise: God is with us. His presence sustains us, offering hope when we’re tempted to give up.

The Fulfillment of God’s Presence in Jesus

The Gospel of John takes us deeper into the mystery of "God with us." John 1:14 tells us, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.”

This is not just poetic imagery—it’s staggering truth. The Creator of the universe stepped into His creation, not as a distant observer but as one of us. In Jesus, God’s love became visible, tangible, and present.

Love is demonstrated through presence. When we lose someone, it’s the absence of their presence that we grieve most deeply. God, knowing our need for His nearness, didn’t just send a message—He came Himself. Even knowing He would be rejected, Jesus chose to come, to dwell with us, and to show us love.

The Impact of God With Us

Ephesians 2:4-6 unveils the depth of God’s mercy and love. Through Christ, we’re not just forgiven; we’re made alive, seated with Him in heavenly places. This speaks to a restored relationship and purpose—living as reflections of His love in a broken world.

God’s love transforms us from the inside out, freeing us from fear and filling us with hope. It empowers us to push back against chaos and corruption by loving, serving, and forgiving others.

Celebrating the Greatest Gift

At the heart of Christmas is the astounding truth that God came near. He stepped into our world so we could step into His love. Relationships thrive through presence, and God’s greatest act of love was becoming present with us in Jesus.

This Advent season, we celebrate a love that moved heaven and earth to dwell among us. It’s a love that invites us into a restored relationship and gives us hope, peace, joy, and purpose.

A Challenge for the Season

Over the next two weeks, make it a point to spend time with the people in your life. As you do, pray that your presence may be a conduit of God’s love to others. Just as God showed His love through His presence, we can reflect that love in the way we show up for others.

Closing Prayer

Let’s thank God for His presence and commit ourselves to follow Jesus, living as reflections of His love in the world:

1. Thank God for Jesus, the ultimate expression of His love.

2. Ask for the empowerment to love others well.

3. Commit to walking in His ways, sharing His love through both word and action.

Closing Thought

The heart of Christmas is the promise of Immanuel—God with us. This truth transforms everything. It reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering, and we are not abandoned in our struggles. Instead, God has come near, offering His love, His presence, and His power to redeem.

As you celebrate this season, let the reality of God’s presence shape your heart and your life. May you experience His love deeply and share it boldly, knowing that through Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of love is here—God is with us, now and forever.

Joyous Expectations

The Christmas season stirs a sense of joyous expectation. But how do we find joy during seasons of waiting or hardship?

Imagine the weight of knowing you might not make it out of a desperate situation alive. That was the reality Martin and Gracia Burnham faced during their 376 days of captivity in the Philippine jungle. Martin, a New Tribes missionary, had dedicated his life to following Jesus—just as he had encouraged others to do during his last devotional in his Kansas hometown. Quoting the words of Jesus from John 21:22, Martin had challenged his church, saying, “As for you, follow me.” He didn’t just say those words; he lived them.

As their captivity wore on, the Burnhams realized that freedom might never come on this side of heaven. But instead of despairing, Martin turned to Scripture for strength. One night, as they lay in a hammock under a makeshift tent, Martin said to Gracia, “The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let’s go out all the way. Let’s serve Him all the way with gladness.”

What a remarkable statement in the midst of hardship! The Burnhams prayed, recited Scripture, and sang hymns together, choosing to focus on God rather than their circumstances. Hours later, a rescue attempt tragically ended Martin’s life and left Gracia injured—but not without hope. Even in death, Martin’s commitment to serve God with gladness stood as a testament to the joy found in following Christ wholeheartedly, no matter the cost.

This story challenges us to ask: How do we respond when life gets hard? 

Do we serve God with gladness, even in the darkest seasons? 

True joy isn’t tied to our circumstances but to our decision to trust God and worship Him through every trial.

Psalm 100:2 calls us to “Serve the Lord with gladness.” That’s not just a command for easy times; it’s a way we are to live in all situations. We can choose to live with joy when we are  enjoying blessings or enduring hardship. The reason for our ability to glorify God with joy is based on our confidence in His promises and His presence is with us. Like Martin Burnham, let us commit to serving God all the way—with gladness in our hearts—no matter what life may bring.

Advent is the season that reminds us to reflect on Jesus’s first coming as a way to prepare for his second coming. Through Advent, we meditate on God’s promises and choose to respond with hope, peace, and joy. 

Unlike fleeting happiness, which is tied to circumstances, joy is a choice—a deep trust in God’s faithfulness, even when life is hard. As we explore Scriptures from Zephaniah, Luke, and Colossians, we discover that joy comes from trusting God to keep His promises while hoping for better things to come.

Joy in the Waiting

“Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart…” (Zephaniah 3:14-17; CSB)

The prophet Zephaniah offers a vision of joy even amid waiting. Much of his prophecy speaks of judgment, yet in chapter 3, God gives His people hope. Zephaniah declares that a day is coming when judgment will end, enemies will be defeated, and God Himself will live among His people. This promise gives them a reason to rejoice, even while they wait.

For us, waiting on God’s promises can be difficult. Yet joy is found in trusting Him, even when circumstances feel uncertain. Zephaniah reminds us that God’s presence, salvation, and victory over fear are reasons to sing and rejoice. As followers of Jesus, we are called to find joy by anchoring ourselves in God’s promises—salvation, forgiveness, resurrection, and the hope of new creation.

Joy in God’s Fulfilled Promises

“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-55)

Mary’s song, the Magnificat, flows out of her joy in seeing God’s promises fulfilled. After learning she would give birth to the Messiah, Mary visits Elizabeth, whose own miraculous pregnancy confirms God’s faithfulness. Mary’s song rejoices in God’s power to lift the humble, feed the hungry, and bring justice.

Mary and Elizabeth saw God at work, but their circumstances—Roman oppression and poverty—remained challenging. They chose joy because they trusted in God’s promises. Similarly, we need to train our hearts to see God’s work in our daily lives. Gratitude for even the smallest blessings opens our eyes to His faithfulness. By recognizing God’s provision and transformation in our lives, we can respond with joy and praise.

Joy in Redemption Through Christ

“… being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully…” (Colossians 1:11-14)

Paul reminds the Colossians to be joyful and grateful, even as they face false teachings and challenges in their faith. Why? Because God has rescued them from darkness and brought them into His Kingdom of light. This incredible gift of salvation is the ultimate reason for joy.

Gratitude is essential for living with joy. When we take God’s blessings for granted, we focus on what we lack rather than what we’ve been given. Practicing gratitude—especially for our salvation—grounds us in joy, even during difficult seasons. As Paul prayed for the Colossians, we too can pray for strength and endurance to live with joy, trusting in the redemption Christ has already secured for us.

Conclusion: Choosing Joy

Advent is a time to prepare our hearts by remembering Jesus’ first coming and anticipating His return. As we reflect on God’s promises, His presence, and His gift of salvation, we are invited to live with joy—a joy not dependent on circumstances but on the hope and trust we have in Christ.

Read Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 and spend time in prayer, committing to live with joy each day. Consider where you see God at work in your life and thank Him for His faithfulness.

Final Thought

Happiness comes and goes with life’s ups and downs, but joy is a choice grounded in Jesus. In all circumstances, we can rejoice because God is with us, His promises are true, and His redemption is secure. Let us choose joy, trusting in the One who has already brought us from darkness into His marvelous light.

Peace in Unlikely Places

A World in Desperate Need of Peace

Imagine the remarkable progress humanity has achieved over the past 120 years: electricity illuminating our nights, airplanes shrinking the world, and modern medicine saving countless lives. Yet, amid these achievements, a sobering truth looms: the world has rarely known peace.

 

Consider this: since 1900, over 250 major wars have erupted, including two global conflicts—World War I and II—that devastated nations and left millions dead. Even the so-called "peaceful" moments of the last century were interspersed with proxy wars, struggles for independence, and civil strife. Peace feels elusive, a dream too fragile for this broken world.

 

War is just one reflection of a world out of alignment with God’s intentions. Famine, human trafficking, abuse, addiction, and loneliness are other scars on humanity. Advent reminds us that into this fractured world, God sent His Son, Jesus—the Prince of Peace.

Biblical peace, or shalom, goes far beyond the mere absence of conflict. Rooted in the Jewish understanding of restoration, peace is about bringing wholeness and harmony to what is broken. It involves enemies not only ceasing their fighting but also reconciling and working together. This concept of peace can be seen in repairing a broken wall—returning it to its intended state. The peace Jesus brings is both the end of humanity's rebellion against God and the restoration of life to the way it was meant to be, a profound renewal of relationships and creation.

 

Peace in Unexpected Places

1. Peace from an Unlikely Place (Micah 5:2-5a)

The Prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah, Israel’s long-awaited deliverer, would come from Bethlehem. This small, unremarkable town echoed God’s choice of David, the shepherd-king. Bethlehem reminds us that God’s plans unfold in humility and unlikely places.

 

Micah also paints a vivid picture of the Messiah as the source of peace: not merely the absence of conflict, but restoration—restoring relationships, rebuilding what’s broken, and bringing life back into alignment with God’s will. This peace begins with reconciliation between God 

and humanity. Through Jesus, we glimpse what life is meant to be.

2. Peace Born in Humble Circumstances (Luke 2:1-14)

The Christmas story is familiar, yet extraordinary. Jesus, the King of Kings, was born not in a palace but a stable, surrounded by animals. The world’s Savior entered humanity through the humblest means.

 

This humble birth was marked by an angelic announcement, declaring Jesus as the bringer of peace to the earth. His mission was twofold: to reconcile humanity with God through His death and resurrection and to spread that peace into the world.

 

Jesus’ followers are called to carry this peace, advocating for the vulnerable and helping those in need. Peace is not passive; it is active and transformational.

3. Peace That Surpasses Understanding (Philippians 4:6-9)

Paul’s letter to the Philippians teaches us the way to experience peace: prayer and thoughtfulness. When we pray, we trust God with our circumstances. This trust fosters unity, strengthens relationships, and provides a sense of calm assurance that God is in control.

 

Paul also urges us to focus on what is good, pure, and true. Meditating on God’s Word transforms our hearts, aligning our lives with His will. As we live out these truths, the “God of Peace” promises to be with us, guiding us to be peacemakers in the world.

Living in God’s Peace

Advent invites us to reflect on the prophecies and events surrounding Jesus’ first appearing as we prepare for His return. Through His humble birth in Bethlehem, Jesus became the source of peace for a broken world.

 

We are reminded: God’s promise of peace came through the unlikely town of Bethlehem.

Peace was born in humble circumstances, proclaimed by angels to shepherds.

As we wait for Jesus’ return, we experience peace through prayer, unity, and trust in God.

 

Where in your life do you need God’s peace? Ask this question in prayer, seek His guidance, and act on it. True peace—wholeness, restoration, and reconciliation—can only be found in Jesus.

Final Thought

Our world is out of alignment, pulled off its foundation by sin. Yet Jesus, the Prince of Peace, began the process of restoration with His first coming. He dealt with sin and reconciled us to God, and He will return to make all things new.

 

In the meantime, we live as agents of peace: forgiving, restoring, and pointing others to the hope found in Christ. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is with us. Let us bring His peace into the world.