For any dance to truly work, the body has to move in step with the rhythm of the music.

The melody and the movement must flow together in harmony. The words and the body must be in perfect unison.

When everything is connected seamlessly, it is a thing of beauty.

And of course, I’m not really talking about dancing.

A common refrain in the Old Testament is the phrase, “His love endures forever.” It is found repeatedly in the Psalms, and Psalm 136 ends each line with that statement for a total of 26 times.  

Why the repetition? Because God knows we need the reminder. Life has its share of ups and downs, victories and defeats, moments of joy and seasons of sorrow. In all of it, we can lose sight of the unshakable truth that God’s love is not temporary, conditional, or fragile. It endures.

Psalm 136 walks us through Israel’s story from creation, deliverance from Egypt, guidance through the wilderness, victories over enemies, and after every act of God’s faithfulness comes the same declaration: “His love endures forever.” It is a rhythm that drives home the reality that no matter what changes, His love remains the constant.

That same refrain holds for us today. When you succeed, His love endures forever. When you fail, His love endures forever. When you feel close to Him or when you feel far away, His love endures forever.

So let those ancient words become your modern anthem. Whatever you’re walking through, whisper these words to your heart: “His love endures forever.” It did yesterday. It does today. And it will tomorrow.

Every Sunday morning, two distinct groups walk through our church doors.

One group arrives with crossed arms as they are dragged by spouses, pushed by parents, or shopping for a new Church that compares to their favorite one. They’re listening for something disagreeable as they sit through worship and listen to the sermon.

The second group comes hungry for community and hope. Life’s been tough, and they’re genuinely seeking help. Maybe a friend invited them, and they’re excited about growing together.

Both collections of people find precisely what they’re looking for. Those seeking flaws spot the off-key singer or outdated carpet. Those open to being blessed will experience God’s presence and find hope.

Our Church leadership works hard to remove the reasons that the first group might discover, along with adding features to make the second group feel more at home. Still, all of these people will find what they are looking for when they visit. The question isn’t about our worship quality or friendly greeters; ultimately, it’s about the condition of our hearts when we approach God.

The next time you walk into Church, examine your heart first. Are you looking for reasons to stay distant, or genuinely seeking to encounter the living God?

Your answer will determine what kind of Sunday morning you’ll have.

As I’ve grown older, my heart increasingly turns toward the generation coming behind me. My life has been devoted to sharing Christ’s message, strengthening believers, and building a vibrant faith community.

Now I find myself wondering: what legacy will remain when I’m no longer here? This isn’t a new concern. The Apostle Paul, facing his final days, wrote these urgent words to Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Paul’s strategy was brilliant in its simplicity. He invested deeply in faithful young leaders like Timothy, but he didn’t stop there. He challenged Timothy to multiply that investment by pouring the same truths into others who would carry the message forward.

The true test of ministry is not just what we accomplish in our lifetime, but whether the next generation continues the work with even greater impact. Success isn’t measured only by our own faithfulness to Jesus, but by how effectively we’ve prepared others to carry His message into the future.

As a leader, I currently have about five typed pages of ideas for our church community, ministries, and even the building. Every time I think of something that might help us grow spiritually or reach more people for Jesus, I quickly log it into my notes app to save for later. My heart longs to see God’s people flourish and the lost come to know Christ, and I don’t want to miss any opportunity that could help us do that.

To generate these ideas, I spend hours each week reading blogs, listening to podcasts, and devouring books. I’m also part of several pastors’ groups online, where I’m constantly reading comments and suggestions from other leaders. On top of that, my inbox is filled daily with messages from companies and authors who produce tools and resources to help churches succeed. My mind is continually filled with new ideas from leaders across the world who are doing great things for God.

But here’s the challenge: ideas are everywhere, yet wisdom comes only from God. It’s easy to get caught up in the flood of strategies, programs, and tools and forget to pause and ask the Lord, “What do You want for us?” Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Great ideas can inspire us, but only God’s direction can truly lead us. My prayer is that I never chase trends more than I pursue Jesus and his leading. I hope to filter every idea, every resource, and every suggestion through prayer and Scripture, so that the Church is not just busy but is faithful in following God.

My social media groups for preachers have been alive the past few weeks with discussions about when someone should leave their Church. Apparently, a large group of pastors has drawn circles, saying that if you do not express an opinion about a particular topic they feel strongly about, then you, as a parishioner, should consider finding a new Church.

There are only three reasons when it becomes acceptable to leave a community of believers and find a new group.

First, when the leaders of the Church deny the authority of scripture. Whenever a group abandons the word of God, they are immediately headed away from Him.

Second, you need to leave if that faith community no longer believes that Jesus is the only source of salvation and faith in him is required to spend eternity with the Father.

Finally, I think it is acceptable to leave when that Church begins to endorse sin and neglects a message of repentance and transformation into Christlikeness. This is usually the result of people dismissing scripture and often leads to them rejecting Jesus. Whenever change for the sake of the Gospel is optional, then those people have abandoned the faith.

As a long-time Church leader, it breaks my heart to read online of so many people who are now changing their community of faith because of what their pastor did not say. It only serves to drive home the consumer mentality that exists in America. People tend to think that the Church is here to do what they want and do it their way. If it does not make them happy, then they will take their time and money and shop for a new Church elsewhere.

I spend countless hours praying and seeking God’s guidance in what I should say each week. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me into his holy word and give me something to say about Jesus and living for him. I will never do any less, and I firmly believe that is the accurate measure of a faithful Church, and nothing else.

My 90-year-old mother needed new tires for her vehicle. This is her account of what happened. I am not saying this is exactly how it all transpired; I am writing how she felt about what occurred.

She went to the first store, and they did not explain anything. They gave her a receipt from a calculator with a few numbers and the total it would cost. She stated that they did not give me a computer printout or any details.

The second store she went to is a chain store, and she said (and I quote), “They treated me like an old lady who didn’t know anything.” She felt depersonalized and was slightly offended by the way the people working the counter treated her. They gave her a nice printout with lots of details, and she quietly left.

At her third stop, the manager, who is the owner’s son, came and greeted her. He talked with her about her needs and how they could help. He sat down and gave her a printed estimate of the costs, explaining what would happen if they installed her tires.

Where do you think she bought tires?

Here is the thing: she needed tires and was only looking for someone to value her during the sale. She wanted to be treated with respect while feeling safe in her transaction. All they needed to do was to welcome her, communicate clearly, and be friendly.

I believe people need Jesus. They need what the Church has to offer. Sadly, sometimes believers can hinder the spread of the Gospel, not because they preach the hard truth of repentance, but because their tools are outdated and their attitude is offensive.

This year, I made a conscious decision about how I handle Sunday mornings. This was motivated by my own feelings of disconnection from the people I lead.

In my previous years of ministry, I would walk around before worship and talk to as many people as possible. I greeted newcomers and long-time members with “How are you today?” followed by a quick comment, and then I moved on.

This year, I am approaching someone I might not know that well and asking several questions about them. I try to use open-ended questions like “How was your week?” or “Any big plans for today or this week?”

My choice was to have fewer conversations with more depth than a multitude of shallow greetings. For the most part, this has been effective for me. Some people have been resistant to talking, so I depart without making them feel awkward. Others love to chat about their life. I have found that asking a couple of open-ended questions has generated more discussion than I predicted, and quite often a follow-up “So how did that work out this week?” opens the door to a whole new interaction the following week.

People love to share their stories and life if someone simply asks. When we are in a hurry to get to the next person, everyone paints on a happy face and speaks in generalities, and no real connection is made.

With the success I have personally experienced this year in coming to know people better, I am challenging other people to do the same. Take a moment this Sunday and walk up to someone you barely know, and ask them questions about their life, experiences, and dreams. You will be amazed at the connections that begin by trying to have meaningful conversations rather than brief exchanges with the people you see each week.

What is your next step on your walk with Jesus?

This is a very personal question. It is based on where your life is at present. It needs to factor in where you have been and where you hope to go.

Ultimately, it is about taking a single step. Have you made a public profession of faith and been baptized? Then, do those. Have you served the Lord in any capacity? Then, find a place to serve. Have you read a single book in the Bible? If not, start with the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Have you ever prayed about anything? Start with a simple one-minute prayer time.

Be honest about your current position in your walk of faith. Then take a step. There are a thousand possible things you can do, but do something.

My wife and I were walking and talking. As our conversation turned in my head, a clear idea for a blog post entered my mind. But the conversation was sweet to my soul, and I didn’t want to stop, pull out my phone, and type it into my note-taking app.

By the time we arrived back home, the idea was lost, permanently lost. I have spent a week trying to replay our conversation, thinking about each topic in detail, but still no sign of recovery. Just know that if I ever think of it again, you are in for a mind-blowing post that will make you a far better person.

For now, it is lost.

But as I’ve reflected on this fleeting moment, I’ve realized something profound. Maybe the idea wasn’t meant to be captured. Perhaps the real gift was the walk, the laughter, the connection with my wife. That walk was a chance to soak in the beauty of life and love, even if it meant letting go of a brilliant idea.

As a Christian leader and communicator, I am focused on sharing profound insights, so I am always listening closely for the whisper of inspiration. When I hear it, I take notes and try not to lose a single thought. Lately, I’m learning that it’s okay to let some things slip away. The Holy Spirit is faithful, and if that idea was meant for the world, He’ll bring it back in His perfect timing.

So, while I’m disappointed by the loss of what was sure to be a viral blog post, I’m grateful for what I gained instead. I was reminded to be present and to cherish the moment. The lesson for me isn’t in the post I forgot, but in the walk I’ll remember.