“We had hoped...” This phrase is common in our world and culture. It often describes disappointment in a person, plan, or situation . But when you slow it down, it exposes something deeper: not just disappointment, but misalignment. This is a great season for many people. The weather is warming up and spring is here. We’re coming off the most watched stretch of college basketball all year, March Madness . People come from everywhere to predict who the next national champion w

A little over a year ago, my wife and I started CrossFit . After more than a decade of not doing anything consistently, I plunged into this new fitness journey. There has been a lot to learn, and there still is. Some things feel completely new. But there are also things that have come back surprisingly quickly. Many of the lifts and movements we do now are things I first learned when I was 13 years old. Different form. Different equipment. A very different body that had not

We live in a time in American history when people seem more divided than ever, even while loudly proclaiming messages of diversity and inclusion. This division is especially evident in our political scene. Whether you like him or not, Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, is deeply loved by many and just as deeply despised by others. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, or whether you even knew this was a thing, I recently came across a headline

Merry Christmas, everyone! Many of you have probably already busted down the stairs (if you have them) and dove headfirst into the pile of presents and stocking stuffers. As I’m sure many of you received gifts you needed and wanted, there is also real joy in watching the faces of those you give to. Sometimes the best part of Christmas morning isn’t what we open — it’s who we’re watching. This Christmas, after everything was opened, I mentioned that only one thing came off he

Photo by Aidan Bartos on Unsplash Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. This was a defining event in my life. Every generation has that moment when they remember exactly where they were: JFK’s assassination, MLK Jr.’s assassination, the moon landing (if you believe it actually happened). For my generation, 9/11 was that moment. I was in 9th grade in Mr. Jackson’s Earth and Environmental Science class at South Brunswick High School i

Photo by Morrow Solutions on Unsplash He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Easter Sunday is here, and while many people are focused on baskets and bunnies, we remember what Easter is truly about—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This past week at CrossFit , we had an optional finisher workout called The Carry . It was created in partnership with a national CrossFit brand and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). The Carry involves taking a weighted bar

This time of year is beloved by many because of the budding trees, blossoming flowers, changing weather, and college basketball tournaments . Around this time, everyone (well, almost everyone) pulls out brackets to predict who will win the tournament and be crowned National Champion. Churches, workplaces, families, and friends create pools for bragging rights—and sometimes even prizes! The reality is, most of us don’t really know what we’re talking about. We haven’t watched

Several weeks ago, our Upward Sports Flag Football and Cheer Ministry participated in our local high school's Homecoming parade. This has...

We are just a few weeks away from Christmas , and I know for many of you, things might be a tad different this year. And I am not talking...

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at my church. This week's article is a condensed version of that sermon. You can watch...

Have you ever participated in a watch party? You know. One of those events where a bunch of people gather at a specific location at a...

A few weeks ago, Christians celebrated and remembered Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb. Easter, as we call it now, signals hope, joy, and confidence that God is in control of life and death. He is stronger than death – and Revelation tells us that one day God will throw death itself into the lake of fire. Easter also carries some other thoughts and emotions for me and my family. Many years ago, my grandmother died on, or around, Easter. (She was born on Easter too, but not