Every once in a while you get your mind blown. It happened to me this week. (This could be because we have had over 30 days above 110 degrees, but I don’t think so.) No, what blew my mind was housed in this quote from a Bridgetown Church study guide intro:

It has been so incredible to gather in person on Sunday mornings again. I know some of you may be saying, “What? When did that happen?” Well, it happened four weeks ago. As our main teaching and worship service continues online, we have also opened the sanctuary for prayer and worship at 8, 9:30, and 11am.

Last Sunday began something new for Living Streams Church. Though we continue to have our main worship and teaching time online, we opened up the doors of the sanctuary for our first-ever, limited-capacity, social-distanced, face-masked, Sunday morning prayer and worship attack service!

Though I know the flood of Genesis 7 and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 are vastly different in scale, violence and intensity, I do keep finding my quarantined self thinking about Noah and his family on the ark.

First, a little journalism for you. Governor Ducey and his COVID-19 task force held a press conference on Monday June 29th. Ducey began by stating his top priority in the face of COVID-19 is to “minimize gatherings and congregating.” He said, “Arizonans, by and large, have been terrific, fantastic, and responsible” regarding the recommendations given by his task force. “Yet,” he went on to say…

When your summer travel plans get canceled, and then your backup plans get canceled as well, what do you do? I don’t know what you do, but me and my Stockton five, we quarantine ourselves in our big van and head north.

So the last couple weeks have come with stirred up a lot of feelings. I was filled to the brim with the uncertainty and unrest that COVID-19 has brought about. I was deeply stirred with indignation over the horrible murder of George Floyd by someone who abused the special authority given to police officers.

I really believe it’s the Church’s job to lead people back to each other.

In this time of COVID-19 quarantine we have experienced intense separation due to biological realities. These months of social distancing and the lingering uncertainty make it seem scary to try to get back together.

The music of my childhood was the music of my parents. My dad loved goofy 60’s music like “G.T.O.” by Rohnny and the Daytonas. My mom bounced back and forth between Les Miserable and Country.

Many people are asking what I think the church should do in light of all the Covid-19 questions and re-opening questions. I know the main reason they are asking is because they care about the church. We are a church family and there is a beautiful covenantal bond that takes place when people commit to worship Jesus together and journey life’s challenges alongside each other.

The human capacity for emotions is so fascinating. Emotions are potent, substantive things. Fear, hate, love, joy are powerful. But what is so fascinating to me is how we can feel strong, opposing emotions at the same time. On the one hand I am feeling overjoyed at the moves our city is taking to reopen society. On the other hand I am grieved because I woke up yesterday to a text from a friend. He said he received an email from me…

It seems the big question on everyone’s minds right now is “when will we reopen?”

Today’s big question is when will we reopen? While that is true there are many other elusive questions still unanswered in our minds.

All right, my friends, it’s time to gear up for another fifteen days of staying at home. Governor Ducey announced yesterday that the stay-at-home plan has been extended through May 15 for Arizona. Oy vey.

I was not expecting the Governor to give the "all clear" and reopen everything; but I was hoping for a little step in that direction

One of my all time favorite songs from my all time favorite song writer who sings for one of my all time favorite bands says this…

Wish I had what I needed to be on my own
’Cause I feel so defeated and I'm feeling alone

Well, first a few lingering Easter thoughts, and then I will share a little quarantine family adventure with you.

• I am the first pastor in Living Streams history to put up a goose egg for Easter attendance. Ha ha.

We have all heard "April showers bring May flowers." Right now the question is: What does a church quarantined for the month of April bring? My firm belief is that it will bring fields “ripe for harvest.” Jesus told His disciples to open their

Another day, another check of the stats. Another day, another layer of disruption. Another day, another guess at what the right response is. Yet, at the same time, another day is another opportunity to hear the unshakeable voice of God. Do you know what has been soothing my soul during this

All this rain in the desert and all the empty toilet paper shelves have got me thinking.
First the toilet paper. For the vast majority of human history, and for much of the world’s population today, toilet paper is not a part of their lives. In fact, about 4 billion people in today’s world do not use

Like so many of you, we have spent the last several days and weeks learning about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it is impacting our world. In times like this, we remember Jesus said we are to be “as wise as serpents and harmless as doves,”

My friends, 2020 is off with quite a bang. The Iranian missile strike, the corona virus, and the stock market crash. Oh, and did I mention that it is an election year? I am very happy that our church has started the year by focusing on how to