Happy Holidays: The Real Enemy Of Christmas
When I was growing up I learned about the “War on Christmas.” Saying Happy Holidays around a “Christian” will land you with some real side-eye shade and maybe even a dramatic, “IT’S MERRY CHRISTMAS!” Nowadays, if you say Happy Holidays, it’s likely you’ll be on the...
You’ll See How Weak I Was: A Fear Of Stepping Out Of The Boat
The night before, as I was deciding what to wear for the concert I was throwing in Pittsburgh with a couple of DJs, I went through my closet and found an old Exiting The Fall shirt I had tucked away. It was if the shirt had been misplaced for years. So I pulled the...
Would Jesus Welcome Trump?
If Jesus lived today would he welcome the most controversial President of the United States? Would Jesus welcome President Trump to his house?
Ronald L. Wilson: Husband, Father, Pappap, Fireman, and Hero
Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for coming and celebrating the life of Ronald Wilson. It's so weird calling him Ron, because as some of you know, Im his grandson and I've always known him as Pappap. So from now on, when you hear Pappap, you know I'm speaking...
Ron Wilson: The Legend of Washington, Pa
It may sound strange but I've actually dreamt about this day over the years (though if you know me well, you probably won't find that strange knowing how I dream). I've had dreams where Pappap died and I would wake up in tears. And even though it's different from a...
Rejection, Bitterness, And The Tale Of Two Doors
It's been a year this week since two doors had opened for a new job. After a year of unemployment, mental breakdowns, and more rejection than I ever could have anticipated, things were finally starting to look up. Not only was I training for a security job, I also had...
When Life Steals Your Joy
How do you find joy when you’re struggling to make ends meet? How do you find joy when you work hard every day but keep getting slighted by your company?
7 Practices For Spiritual Transformation
Spiritual Transformation: We need to break out of this monotonous cycle of cookie cutter Christianity. We need to go deeper!
The Start of a New Season
Start of a New Season: When I was 6 years old, according to my Mom, I stood in the West Washington Methodist Church and said I wanted to be a Pastor.
Empowering Missions | Short Story
If you'd rather watch a video about this than read, you can watch here. To read the full story of how I got here, click here. So here I am! Scared out of my mind but confident that God has called me to be a voice for missionaries. Empowering Missions is Phase 1 of...
When Courage Is Gone, Nothing Goes
If you'd rather listen than read the story, you can listen here. It’s been almost 4 years since I received my last word of encouragement. After citing Joshua 1:9, Dr. Chandler noted that I have a courageous spirit within me and God loves that about me. She said, “You...
God Is Not For You
There is an indisputable fact among mankind: we all go through difficult times. In the worst of times, our very being feels defeated, overwhelmed, and plagued. We try each day with every breath to make it to the next hour, the next minute, and even the next second....
Value (Because I Couldn’t Find A More Clever Title)
Since history has been written, humans have concocted this subconscious ideology that some humans are more valuable than others. It’s an idea that most people wrestle with. Heck, Americans are so tuned into this idea that we treat animals better than the homeless guy...
Transition: When God Disappoints You
Transition. It happens all the time. Moving from one place to the next. Moving from one school or job to the next. The endless seasons of winter, fall, spring, and summer. The never ending political pandemonium. Life, love, and death. Some seasons are freeing while...
Honduras Day 4 – Santa Elena
Good evening friends (Or probably Monday morning for most of you :-)) Today we made the trek to Sant Elena, a town that sits in the valley of a couple major mountains. Because of its location there is no drivable road to get there. So we had to hike down 40 minutes...
You Don’t Get It
Today I did something I normally don’t do: I unfollowed someone on Twitter. This person was a remnant from the old days when I was a staunch Republican Conservative and viewed politics as a second religion. It’s probably obvious that this person is a Trump supporter....
I Want To Apologize
Dear friends, acquaintances, family members, those who don't know me, and those who probably don’t like me, I want to apologize to all of you and 140 characters just will not cut it. Since my senior year of college, I have tried to be diligent about the things I post...
Be A Better Man
Disclosure: The title is, "Be a Better Man," but this can apply to women as well. It's just gender specific because it was a conversation with another guy. I think conversations are some of the best breeders for blog posts because they are real and honest discussions...
Mediocrity Is The Killer: Moving Past Apathy and Regret
In their famous song Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste, Norma Jean wrote, “Mediocrity is the killer." As I look back on my life, there are about 1,000,001 different things I regret not doing. I regret not staying healthy. I regret hurting people. I regret saying the wrong...
Being An Adult “That Guy”
Growing up, I was always the weird kid. I grew up in a Christian home, I went to a Catholic school in kindergarten and first grade, I wasn’t skinny, I didn’t like WWF, I wore glasses, and I went to counseling for anger management as a child, so the transfer into the...
The Road To The Future Is Blurry
On August 31, 2015 I shaved my beard as a sign that I would begin to take steps to change my life. I promised I would write a blog on my Birthday as a way to keep myself motivated. I’m here to fulfill that promise and to say… I’ve failed. (I had a whole other blog...
Surely I Have Walked Into Desolation
This constant battle! This battle of want, and need, and hope, and hopelessness. One way or another I’m left to the fearful quietness that is my mind. Endless waves of what I can be, what I never was, where I will be, and what I simply cannot do. Waves of grace…waves...
Life Coach: Running Into A Wall
Why do I need a Life Coach? I remember one day at Youth Group I was explaining how sometimes in our faith we get stuck. Sometimes we get into ruts and we don’t know how to get out. I didn’t get the feeling that a good number of the students were paying attention or...
It’s Time For A New Season
Recently I’ve taken some time to evaluate my life. Who I am. What I’m doing with it. What I’m going to do about my future. Where I am right now. To be honest, I am nowhere close to where I want to be in my life. Geographically speaking, sure, I’m in Jerusalem. But...
Through The Storm
How does one respond after being rejected? Our very nature cries out for acceptance among peers, family, friends, and even among those who are or will be enemies. We long for acceptance to schools, jobs, and romantic relationships. Nonetheless, we often live in a...
An Open Letter To High School Grads
Congratulations! You did it! Whether you are going to a college or have decided that going into debt just isn’t for you, you have done an amazing thing: you have graduated from High School and you deserve to celebrate! Over these next few months things are going to...
Everything Is Possible For You, But…
Friday night as we sat around the table, coming to the close of the Seder, I was given instructions to read a few lines from the Haggadah and, in this particular Haggadah, I read Mark 14:36, which reads: “Abba, Father,” Jesus said, “everything is possible for you....
Youth Ministry – A Year Later: Thoughts & Reflections
As I gazed out into the crowd on March 30, 2014, I gave a speech of gratitude, sorrow, but ultimately of optimism (You can read the transcript of that speech here). After almost 5 years in the ministry in one way or another, I was about to leave it for a season....
When Dreams Collapse
"When the dreams you've caught aren't the dreams you've chased / Now your hearts are bleeding to keep this pace/ The kid you were hates the man you became / You can't remember what you wanted / You just can't feel the same/ Remember What You Chased!" -A Plea For...
Petra 2015
On Wednesday morning, as per usual Jet Lag, I woke up about an hour before my alarm went off. I was also really excited to finally travel to the south and make our way over to Petra, Jordan. After being stalled because the Israeli Budget wouldn't give Preston the...