Pastor Nick

To be fair, they just got the new website last month. But yes, you discovered something they didn’t know yet. Now they love you even more.

My wife is going in AGAIN for a heart test this morning. I don't even know how many we've done at this point, with little to no answers every time.

My prayers have turned from petitions of "Please God" to lamenting demands of "Do something already!" because we're getting sick of this "stuff".

Anyone else like making reading lists but hate sharing them because “what if I don’t read all of them and people know about it now?!” This is why I don’t like starting things: the obsessive compulsion to finish anything you start.

Also I feel stupid and foolish for not knowing sooner. Which is dumb but that’s where we’re at.

Listening to one of my favorite Xian artists and learned they are no longer “a practicing Xian” (haven’t for a few years now). So many Sundays during my “terrible awful” they ushered me to church and fed my soul. Didn’t expect to feel such grief, especially before going to worship.

She really liked it, thought it was cute, and laughed at all the appropriate places.

Ru-fi-OOOOOOO!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am introducing my wife to Hook for the VERY FIRST TIME!! Somehow she missed this essential 90’s childhood classic. Glad we can rectify this tonight.

I hope Christians can look at someone like Doug Wilson and recognize the harm and danger someone with those beliefs poses to both the Church and the world. We all see it... right?

a man in a blue suit is screaming and says i 'm in a glass case of emotion ALT: a man in a blue suit is screaming and says i 'm in a glass case of emotion

Finishing up my sermon on Acts 10 for tomorrow, and I'm crying reading Peter's words, "I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another."

Because they are so beautiful and good, but also how often we dismiss this core of the Gospel.

A man who cannot admit his own weaknesses and failures—from the smallfry mistakes to the catastrophic—is a man who fundamentally cannot be trusted, because he is a man who refuses to reckon with reality and to live in accordance with the truth of it. He is deceived and he's doomed to deceive others.

I remember. Thank God for little/BIG celebrations.

Two different perspectives on glitter: “the herpes of the art world” and “sand that majored in musical theater”.

Do with that what you will.

With Next Gen behind us, Elizabeth now has me adventuring through the original series of Star Trek. Today we come to a rather momentous occasion.

As creatures made in the likeness/image of the Creator, we join in the act of creating ourselves AND join in the Creator’s work of REcreating all things.

We had the monthly church "burger bash" last night at our place, and cleaned all day yesterday. It was so good to have people over.

This morning I am WIPED, and fighting against the voice in my mind yelling "you're being lazy, you have stuff to do". But rest and self-care are stuff "to do" too.

While talking about a potential reading list for this year (possibly next year also), I used the word "hopeful" for two reasons: I hope to actually read them (not just make the list), and I hope it will aid in some research ideas.

God only knows what will actually happen.

Pray for us. Life is being unkind to my darling wife and we’re not getting answers other than “tests are normal”.

Not only did my old OT prof write a BOMB of a post on Hosea, but he called me one of his favorite students. Maybe he’s just being kind and says that to all his former students, but I’m gonna run with that all day today (especially as I read OT law codes for sermon prep).

Looking for input:
Who are some people you would consider “pastor theologians”?

I think part of the secret to getting books read is

1) recognize there are three categories (“want to read”, “should read”, “have to read”)

2) somehow make opportunities to combine those categories (I.e. book clubs, reading partners, integrate into work schedule)

a cartoon of homer simpson laying in bed with a toasty cinnamon bun on his head ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson laying in bed with a toasty cinnamon bun on his head

Idk if this makes me old, but after being gone for 10 days the feeling of being back in your own bed is glorious. Praise God that travel & events are done for the summer and we can just be home for August.

Evangelism more completely is the work of the whole church as we live together and toward the world in ways that become an authentic reflection of the universal rule and reign of God in Christ."

- Jeren Rowell #PALCON2025

"Evangelism is so much more than personal conversations that lead someone to pray a sinner’s prayer, although it should include this..."

"The people on the margins will only be reached by the church when we come to them not in power or strength but in vulnerability and humility."

From General Superintendent David Busic's message on evangelism #PALCON2025 :

"To offer charity (help from position of power) is humane; to offer yourself (from position of vulnerability) is divine."

"The only way to get leadership that is truly pastoral is to set it squarely and firmly on a foundation of a theological imagination that can sustain the complex, dangerous, and often frustrating work of the pastor."

"When pastors do their work well, the value of that ministry goes much deeper than services rendered to a people. The heart of pastoral life is to so live among a people while following Jesus that the pastor becomes a living sign of the Good Shepherd."

Some reminders from my friend & mentor Jeren Rowell at #PALCON2025

A new sticker with a needed reminder