This past Sunday I was standing at the back of the auditorium in our weekend service when my friend, Thane walked over to me. Thane's wife, Sarah, wrote, appears, and did her own voice-over for "My Story" (below). As Thane stood beside me, I listened, got choked up, then smiled, then choked up again...

I'm posting this video clip from this past weekend for two audiences, two purposes. First, Granger Community Church attendees and members: If you missed the weekend, you missed this unapologetic recommendation from our senior pastor, Mark Beeson. Interested in an approach to your sexuality and relat...

(Photo: Mark Beeson) This past Monday my friend and fellow pastor, Rob Wegner, was one of six recipients of the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Foundation, City of South Bend, City of Mishawaka, and the Chamber of Commerce. The award was inspired by Dr. Marti...

I've been disappointed (that's putting it mildly) by the boorish comments made about our new president-elect Barak Obama by people carrying Jesus' name. Where's the voice of leadership among the Christian community in contrast to the fear-filled judgment of alarmist conservatives? This past weekend ...

Twenty years ago I worked in human relations in a non-profit agency for six years. During those tenures I volunteered in local church ministry. I led students, taught classes, and chaperoned youth events. Then I spent half a dozen years on a church staff as a youth pastor. From 1997 to 2000 I worked...

I posted this on Wednesday. Then I read Don Reynold's post. Don volunteers his time and gifts on our vocal team at Granger. He's a good friend with a heart for God and people. Don writes: There is a fire burning.  It’s smoke can’t be seen.  It’s heat can’t be felt.  It’s light won’t c...

Years ago - 16 to be exact - I landed on this passage at a prayer retreat on the Oregon coast. God seemed to drive this passage to my core as the essential purpose of my life - both in personal transformation and as a life mission in helping others experience their worth and significance in Christ. ...

This year we changed up our approach to celebrating volunteers. In years past we've decentralized the celebration into ministry department evenings. Or as was the case the past couple years, we hosted a church-wide Friday night event to say "you matter" to the thousands of volunteers who make the mi...

This past Thursday evening I had the opportunity to launch our midweek series: Bringing Up There Down Here Starts Here. The focus was "feeding myself." I find that it's a topic that's challenging to address for a number of reasons: Christians tend to think their local church pastors should feed them...

Tim Stevens has been the steady diet in a vulture-like feeding frenzy of Christians who see Granger Community Church (and others who tap pop culture as parable and platform to communicate Christ) as the antithesis of Christianity. Tim pointed to the string of posts and comments from his critics here...