Photo by Surface on Unsplash| Edited in Canva "Forty-eight point something pounds." I smiled. I had done it. After stuffing socks inside my shoes, strategically arranging packing cubes, and trying every packing trick I knew, my checked bag had finally come in under the 50-pound airline limit. Success. The problem is never whether I can fit everything into the suitcase. The problem is how much it will weigh once I do. As I stood there holding the digital luggage scale, I could

As we head into the Advent Season , I wanted to share another “I Was Just Thinking…” Throwback - one of my dad's original posts that I'm resharing because it still resonates. He taught me to notice God in everyday moments, and I'm honored to carry on his tradition This piece comes from October 22, 2013 . While it originally appeared without a title, I have given it the title "Warning: Don't Miss the Moments Jesus Is Sending You Into the World". The message is clear: a simple

Nane and Me (Armenia, July 30, 2025) A few weeks ago, I returned from my third mission trip to Armenia , and it was nothing short of amazing! I’ve really grown to love this place and its people. Last year, I met a little girl named Nane. Some of you may have heard me talk about her before. This year, I hadn’t even been there a few hours before I reunited with her! When she came up the stairs of the church, we immediately recognized each other and ran into a big embrace . Even

This past summer, I led a team of high school students from our church to Costa Rica on our first youth international mission trip . One of my favorite parts of international mission trips is the flight. Unlike most people, I love the airport and the plane ride—even the 12–14-hour ones ! Costa Rica was my fifth of six international mission trips, and I am always fascinated as we climb to cruising altitude. As we get further from the ground, we get closer to the clouds. And t

Have you ever spent time working on a plan for anything and then when it is time to execute that plan it does not work like you planned it? Many people know exactly what I am talking about. We all spend a considerable amount of time crafting up the perfect schedule just to get the random person interrupting it or constructing the perfect grocery list full of health and thrift just to smell the fresh baked doughnuts when you walk in the store or maybe organizing every detail