Author Archives: southwestrev

An adventure of a lifetime. This is what was promised to me if I decided to not go to the Seminary in the Fall of 2015. I had been serving in southwest Detroit at what was then known as “Family of God in Christ Ministry, Incorporated”, a small mission partner of a few larger suburbanContinue reading “The Adventure of a Lifetime”

It happens. Every single year it happens, whether it be Facebook polls, Twitter surveys, party discussions, or bad sermon introductions. There is a polarizing question that always comes up at Christmas time: Which Christmas movie is best? We may be in the middle of Advent, but we watch our favorite holiday movies all winter long.Continue reading “A Toy Story Christmas”

What is the Church’s response to the passing of Proposal 3 for reproductive freedom? Consider some points from men who lived during the passing of another law that led to the execution of millions in Nazi Germany. Simply put, the Church’s response is to fight back and refuse to compromise in the truth. On Wednesday,Continue reading “Proposal 3 Passed; Now What?”

Today is Reformation Day. In the Lutheran Church, it is the celebration of the monk, teacher, and preacher Martin Luther and what he did for the church, calling for the church to abandon the heresy of buying forgiveness and the tyranny of the papacy. It’s a festival of forgiveness in Christ and in nothing else.Continue reading “Reformation Reflections”

I’ll never forget the first time I heard his name. I was sitting by the fire at the hotel that a countless number of students from across the country had sat by on their journey to further their theological education. As the night wore on, we talked about the delights of connecting with members atContinue reading “The Most Famous Person You Have Never Heard Of”

Tuesday July 26, 9:12 pm: “911 call me” No one ever wants to get that text. I was on my way home when my phone lit up from one of our elders. John lives about a mile from Family of God and has family in the Detroit Police Department, an invaluable asset for an inner-cityContinue reading ““911 call me””

Easter is overrated. Now, before you spit out your coffee, fall out of your chair, and spill all the chocolate eggs out of your Easter baskets so that you can pick up your stones, allow me to explain. I do not intend to disparage Easter at all. Easter is, after all, perhaps the most joyousContinue reading “Easter Is Overrated”

On Sunday, March 14, I stood in the pulpit at Christ Our Savior to preach a bold sermon. I knew it was bold and I knew I would stir the pot a little bit and ruffle some feathers. If you know me, this is not a new thing. Over the last year, I have reallyContinue reading “Why I Can’t Recommend Joyce Meyer…Period.”

Road trips have always been a part of my life. As an eight-year-old kid, I remember going to the store with my mom to grab groceries for our annual week-long vacation to Lake Leelanau in Northern Michigan. I knew it was a four-hour drive, as did my mom, and I knew that my attention span…well…sucked.Continue reading “#NotMyCo-Pilot”

Some things will always remain a mystery. Like the Bermuda Triangle. Or who ate the last donut at church last week? Why did God think it was a good idea to create spiders and snakes? How is it that when we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are consuming not only bread and wine, butContinue reading “A Heavenly High Five”