Does God Value Numbers? In his sermon on Sunday, Chris said that God values numbers, because numbers represent people. When I first heard it, I wasn’t sure he was right. As an Executive Pastor I look at numbers and spreadsheets and systems and processes a lot to try and find where we are doing well, and how we can be…
Hey family, James Myer, his wife Ndidi, Holland, and I are at a pastor’s house in Chalinze, Tanzania using his email. I have many pictures to share with all of you and can’t wait to do it next Sunday. So here is the latest thing that is going on. Yesterday we visited several churches in the Chalinze Baptist Association. Very…
by Chris Plekenpol When I was in college I came across a lot of different philosophies and many right sounding religions. It seemed everyone had a solid slice of truth. When I heard this one illustration, I felt so profoundly moved by it that I started to question the absoluteness and relevance of any one religion. You may have heard…
Addiction to porn is the #1 struggle I have come across doing ministry with young adults. I’ve seen it ruin relationships, bring shame to young men and women, and lead many out of serving and ministry and into isolation. What’s disturbing is that despite all of this, many of these same people seem to be confused about whether it is…
by Chris Plekenpol The Bible is not a book. This might surprise you as every time you look at a Bible it sure looks like a book. It is a collection of 66 books written by 40 different authors. It is just way more convenient to put the 66 books into one handy carrying case we call the Bible. These…
by Chris Plekenpol “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Why do bad things happen at all?” I think is a better question. We look at the greed on Wall St. We see greed to genocide in Africa, and cry out that there is something wrong with the way people treat each other. There is a problem on our…
by Chris Plekenpol There are two words that those trying to understand God need to know. They are transcendent and immanent. Many religions connect God with being transcendent. Buddhism embodies this. A transcendent God is one that sets up the systems of the Earth, sits back and watches it all unfold. He left the Earth as is. Many try to…
by Chris Plekenpol Another fun question that children love to ask adults is, “Where do babies come from?” Oh the joy of parenting. Here is how this usually plays out. “Where do babies come from?” “A mommy and a daddy.” “Where did their mommies and daddies come from?” “Their mommies and daddies.” “But where did they come from?” And usually…
by Chris Plekenpol As a child, we all had days where we hated school. We would ask a series of questions to adults that inevitably would leave them speechless. It started like this. “Why do I have to go to school?” “So that you can get an education”, “Why do I need an education?” “So you can get a job.”…
by Chris Plekenpol I recently was texted this question: “Can I ask God for my future husband to be creative, faithful and honest and love people? Is that wrong? How specific is too specific?” Great question. God is wanting us to have a conversation with him all the time. He is wanting us to share our deepest desires with him….