Steve’s Word

Philippians 1:6 reads, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” I’ll never forget responding to God’s love for me in Jesus Christ as an eighth grader in the Communicant’s class. I’ll never forget the Sunday School teachers in the front rows smiling with tears of joy when I shared my Statement of Faith in the worship service. I’ll never forget how ...

Over the years of my ministry, I often return to Philippians 1:6. And now, given our Interim Pastor journey, I find great encouragement for each one of us at this time in Grace’s history and ministry. Philippians 1:6 reads, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Grace is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Our individual lives are built on ...

I’m reading a book on “change” written by N. Graham Standish. Let me share some comments provided by the Publisher at Fortress Press.

“. . . And the Church Actually Changed addresses issues brought up by clergy themselves in his coaching work with them. Using an integrative approach to ministry, Standish draws on insights from counseling, spiritual direction, organizational development, and other fields. The book is written in the form of dialogues between a clergy coach and various clergy clients who ...

One of the most significant things I learned during my two weeks of Interim Training in 2012 is this: I cannot outwork the changing world. I must quit trying harder.

That mindset to address change was drilled into me throughout my years of compulsory, undergraduate, and graduate education as well as thirty-two of my forty-two years of being a Pastor. Trying to outwork the changing world is now labeled the “Old Mindset” by the “New Mindset” named Adaptive Change. My friends, ...

I’m thrilled to be Grace Presbyterian Church’s Interim Pastor at such a time as this. Our Holy Week journey included Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae, and Good Friday. It culminated with Resurrection Sunday. And along with you, I say, Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Yes, our Holy Week experience culminated with Resurrection Sunday. Jesus conquered death, and there is hope for all humanity that by placing one’s faith in Jesus Christ, a person lives eternally with God and has an abundant life now. ...