PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

A List of Blog Posts

In the Wind

I’d like to know where I submit my formal petition. I think we should officially move the start of each year to March 1st. Nothing against January 1st, or the Roman god Janus—January’s namesake. He is the Roman god of

Read More »

Faith is Made Whole in Community

​​Faith is a team sport. That is to say, my faith is something far less if it weren’t for the people who have been a part of my life. Would you agree? The Holy Spirit works in your life continuously.

Read More »

Flourish

​​It seemed so far away. The note came home from school asking for a check. It was the time to order Ethan’s class T-shirt. It was 2015 and my oldest was closing in on the end of elementary school—4th grade

Read More »

Loving and Serving: 2023 Reflection

 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us:

Read More »

Minutes & Moments

Time. It’s a cruel taskmaster. Relentlessly progressing. Despite the rules, or the method of discipline—Time Out is a misnomer. It keeps marching. Always. And so it has throughout this year. Really? December already!? When it comes to this month time

Read More »

At the Table

So much of our faith is gathered around a table. Eating together is a thread woven throughout the entire Bible. A hospitable meal with Abraham and the three visitors becomes the backdrop for much of scripture (Genesis 18). Eating is

Read More »

Metronomes and Keeping the Beat

Keeping the beat is hard for me—especially if I’m trying to do something else, like singing. It’s easy to notice how bad I am at our 9 o’clock worship. I can do okay if someone else is leading the clapping.

Read More »

Checking the Boxes

We have started the college search in earnest for Ethan. As with every parent before me, I marvel at how fast the time has gone. We made our first official college visit recently. During the drive Ethan and I talked.

Read More »

Three Theological Virtues

The greatest words ever written about the force of love is 1 Corinthians 13. Read at many weddings, these words are far more about community and how we live than just words of advice for the new couple. In fact,

Read More »

Aspirations

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So begins the second paragraph

Read More »
tumbleweed in the middle of the road between field during day

Combatting Tumbleweeds

A Jetfighter never wants to be a tumbleweed. Tumbleweed is a shorthand code—a tactical brevity code—to describe limited situational awareness. In other words, a tumbleweed jet pilot is flying blind, adrift, and of no value to the overall mission or

Read More »

Keep Moving

Moving matters. The more I sit the worse off I am. I get sore. I’m less productive. I’m more tired. And, somehow, my pants shrink in the washing machine at a faster rate. It’s strange though, they don’t shrink in

Read More »

The Lever and the Fulcrum

Archimedes, the most famous of the Ancient Greek mathematicians, famously said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”  A lever is one of the 6 types of

Read More »

40 Days

Sabbath. It means seven and is where the word Saturday originated. It also means rest. Or, perhaps, first, it means rest. It is on the seventh day that the Lord looked out on all He spoke into being and smiled.

Read More »

Do You Know Your Story?

Adversity is a mark of living. If you’re alive, you will face hardship. Navigating through—and bouncing back from it—is a gift. It’s also a skill you can cultivate. You can grow in your ability to recover; find hope; and press

Read More »

Join the Choir

A recent trend for this time of year has been to reflect and hold onto a single word as you head into the New Year. I have friends who have lifted up words like: Enjoy. Opportunity. And Humble. Truth be

Read More »

Light

Our days are shorter and shorter this time of year. The sun sets earlier and earlier and the chill in the air stings. I can see my own breath at the bus stop in the morning. There is less light

Read More »

All…

The Bible is hard. Some of it (much of it) is hard to understand. It is full of nuance and connections that are impossible to track. There are parts that seem to contradict itself. Its language and imagery are foreign

Read More »

An Evening of Prayer

Jesus calls Simon Peter to be his disciple in Luke 5. It is a story that expands on some of the other gospel versions. Here Jesus sits in Simon Peter’s boat to teach the crowds. It was a long day

Read More »

POP on Prayer

Prayer is who we are as followers of Jesus. It shapes you. Empowers you. Guides and directs you into God’s future. Prayer is essential. At our recent Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit, prayer was identified as one of the strengths

Read More »

P.O.P. on Prayer

As you have heard by now, POP had a successful and helpful Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit in the middle of August. Immediately, there was a renewed energy, excitement, and a fresh air of hope among the leaders who participated.

Read More »

Fresh Eyes

“Lord, let our eyes be opened…” Matthew 20:33 It is laughable how often I ask my wife, Deanna, where something is hiding. Most of the time it is on the table in front of me. Right where I’m looking—at the

Read More »

Captain Jack

Captain Jack Sparrow, from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has a unique compass that is one of his most prized possessions. At various points in the stories, he loses this compass. It immediately puts him out of sorts as

Read More »

Resting in the Lord

One of my greatest joys as a dad is helping put together toys for and with my children. I’ve dutifully sat as the “Lego piece hunter” so my kids can complete the next step. I’ve attached wheels and hoods to

Read More »
yellow powder on clear glass bowl

Spring is in the Air

I know Spring has come because I have been sneezing non-stop for 2 weeks and my outdoor furniture has a beautiful yellow patina to it from all the pollen. Spring and Spring cleaning go hand in hand. As the world

Read More »

Mourning and Waiting

Welcome to April! Later this month we will be celebrating the greatest day of the year—the day of God’s victory. Much of the information in this edition of The Connector covers and shares the many ways we will celebrate that

Read More »
shallow focus photography of musical note book

The Music of Jesus

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Mark 14:26 Jesus has been the subject of all kinds of artwork in all different kinds of mediums. We have incredible paintings and sculptures of

Read More »

All You Need is Love

As a guy from Ohio who has made his home in Georgia, I really enjoyed watching snowfall here. Deanna grew up in the snow belt off of Lake Erie. It was common for a foot of snow to be dumped

Read More »
black vehicle

Emissions Test

It is time for me to get my emissions test. That annual hoop to jump through to ensure that you and your car are doing the best to not pollute the Georgia sky. It’s a hoop jump because, for most

Read More »
silhouette of road signage during golden hour

January 2022

“Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archbishop Desmond Tutu led the nation of South Africa into a new world in the aftermath of apartheid in the 1990s. He passed away

Read More »

The Light Shines

Light wins. Always. It shines in the dark. Calms fears. Shows the way. Encapsulates you in the warmth of its glow. Light always wins. It breeds hope. December has landed on our doorstep. It rushes in with joy and anticipation.

Read More »

Life, Life, & More Life

“I’ve come that they might have life, and have it to the fullest…” ~ Jesus I often quote this verse because I think it encapsulates the “why” of Jesus. Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why” unlocks the power of the

Read More »
Time moves on

Next Small Step

Disciples are in motion. Like water that is stagnant for too long, we become sluggish, lifeless, and bogged down when we don’t move. Christ Jesus calls us into life and movement. We lean forward. We take steps. We walk along

Read More »

Recipe for Growth

Growing and maturing is not a scientific formula. In many ways it is more art than science. We all know people that are well into adulthood and have not yet found maturity. Equally, I hope, you’ve had the pleasure of

Read More »

Gatekeepers and Door Holders

This week we have been looking at what it means to be Door Holders. Specifically, Door Holders are those who, having drawn close to God, we stand at thresholds and help others draw near. We are servants. What was a

Read More »

Images, Idols, and Icons: Eyes to See

This week we have been unpacking what it means to have our eyes opened by God. Our description states “Our eyes are opened to see God at work around us and within us.” This is what Jesus did for the

Read More »
brown clay pot

On The Potter’s Wheel

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are thirsty. We thirst for more Jesus; more faith; more knowledge; we thirst for more of the Living Water. Today I want to dive into Genesis 2 and the story of Adam and Eve.

Read More »

The Solid Rock of our Hope

The first funeral I ever presided over was my grandmother’s. She died while I was in seminary, on my internship. Gummy–that is what we called her. She was a special soul who was just the right mixture of sweet and

Read More »
brown wooden blocks on white surface

Lessons from C.S. Lewis

When the pandemic first hit I shared a quote from Martin Luther about living through the plague–you can find it quoted here. Recently, this 1948 quote from C.S. Lewis has been making the rounds as well. It is Lewis’ response

Read More »
black retractable pen on opened book beside red and white go get'em-printed coffee cup

Gearing UP!

Much of what you read and learn about in this edition of the Connector pertains to our kickoff for the fall. We are excited to be getting back to a more typical lineup of ministries at Prince of Peace. Big

Read More »
man in black and white striped long sleeve shirt

Now and Not Yet: Why Brokenness Lingers

The victory of Jesus is real. he has, as Martin Luther said, “overcome sin, death, and the devil.” Furthermore, through baptism you are invited into His victory. In a real sense, His victory is our victory. This is most certainly

Read More »

Mentors, Proteges, and Peers

In the Christian life of discipleship, everyone needs a Mentor, a Protege, and a Peer. Or, maybe a whole bunch of each. A Special Couple Deanna’s dear friend from college got married a decade ago. Betty was always a delight.

Read More »
building during day

Founded on Scripture

As the celebration of fireworks still rings in our ears, I wanted to share 2 scripture passages that were pivotal in establishing our great nation. Jeremiah 17:9 and Isaiah 33:22. Did you know that 51 of the 55 delegates to

Read More »
spider web in close up photography

Faith Webs & Formation

Faith Webs are a way of mapping relationships, building community, and transmitting the faith from one generation to the next. I see these faith webs forming and strengthening each Sunday as our POP children run up to trusted adults. These

Read More »

Holy Week

Holy means set apart; to stand out. It means different. The Holy Bible is different than every other book. Holy Communion stands out from every other meal. The angels sing Holy, Holy, Holy to our God because He is different

Read More »

Worship Times for Holy Week

Welcome to these Holy Days as we worship and walk with Jesus through the Upper Room, to the Garden of Gethsemane, before Pilate, and the march to Golgotha. Our salvation plays out before us. Join us for worship these days

Read More »
sunlight coming through the woods

Waiting for the Night to End

This time last year we were starting to shut things down as we faced the uncertainty of the growing global pandemic. We went into lockdown for two weeks to help control the spread. But then two weeks turned into two

Read More »

Worship Leader Job Description

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is seeking a gifted musician/leader to enhance and coordinate our contemporary worship experience. Upon reviewing the information below, and if you feel called to learn more about this opportunity, please see our job posting on

Read More »

Entering a New Season

Do you feel it yet? The weather is changing. The tide is turning. Winter is singing its death song. Perhaps more than usual, we are ready for this change. We are ready for this change with all that has been

Read More »