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(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on November 13, 2016) I made a commitment long ago to be as honest and transparent as I can be as pastor of this church. Not that I had a whole lot of choice, I’m not really the best …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on October 30, 2016) There’s a soft place in God’s heart for the outcast and the oppressed, for the underdog and the overlooked. In one sense, this has been a revolutionary thing to my mind and heart. Over the …

I’ve been thinking of the complications around being a “one issue” voter, especially when pro-life is the issue. Several years ago, my friend Elizabeth Sherwood began a ministry called “Young Lives” at our church, a ministry with a focus on teen parents. This was a …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on October 9, 2016) Last week, Jesus’ words in John chapter 15 reminded us to root ourselves, draw life from, take our direction and values from Jesus. And this week, we look at Paul’s words in his letter to …

(Yesterday I sent this letter to our church here in Newberg.) To my Newberg Friends Church family, For virtually all of my adult life, you’ve been my church family. I’m grateful for all the ways you have shaped me and my family for the better. …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on October 2, 2016) You may or may not have noticed that things are very politically charged and volatile right now. You may or may not have noticed that issues in our church and denomination are a bit charged and …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 11, 2016) (This is more note-like than my usual manuscript…sorry, don’t have the time to clean it up) Intro Kid refusing to hold your hand. You can force a “hand hold” as a parent cause you’re stronger, …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 4, 2016) Part One This is a bowl of Skittles. What color is your favorite? [ASK] Are you a random eater, or do you save your favorite color for last, or do you eat your favorites first? [ASK] …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 28, 2016) Over these next few weeks, I’m adapting the messages I gave at Surfside, our high school camp at Twin Rocks.  Last week, we talked about the times when circumstances cause us to feel like we …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 21, 2016) Sometimes you get yourself in precarious situations, where you are holding on for dear life. I mean, all you want is to grab a little snack, and then you are barely holding on… [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucHtYr29cE?rel=0] …