For years, I said, “I don’t say Good-bye, I prefer to say see you later.” Some of this may be because for 15 years my family and I lived...

I’m making a lot of new friends in this season of my life.  Suppose a couple came to me and said something like this, “Trent, we’ve...

Farmers understand church planting better than most. I spent today with a potato farmer whose family has farmed in St. Johns County,...

This past weekend, a new friend graciously let our family use his beach condo. I packed, planned and bought the food, grateful to be able...

I am a chronic over-reacher. I don’t mean an overachiever. I mean an over-REACHER. The first time I heard the concept, “stay in your...

I feel like I’ve entered a completely different world. It’s the world of church planting. I’ve been here before so I didn’t think this...

The privilege of choosing a name—whether for a newborn child or a soon to be born church—carries with it the power of identity, purpose,...

Trent and I are teaching on parenting next weekend. As we have put together what we want to say to parents, I can’t help but think of...

With the arrival of my first grandchild, I'm experiencing flashbacks to the overwhelming sense of responsibility and naivety I felt when...

Dear grandchild,  For months I have prayed for you in anticipation of you being born. Today, upon your arrival, I started praying that...

A few years ago, Andrea and I were asked to speak on the first night of FamilyLife’s Love Like You Mean It Cruise. The ship had a huge...

I decided to title my Substack channel “Let Me Be Clear” . Let me be clear why. Clarity has become my favorite word in the English...

I wish Phillipians 1:29 was not in the Bible. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in...

I am pretty sure God wanted me to meet Jared Wilson . And last week I did.  Several of Jared’s books are the most dog-eared and...

Andrea and I just returned from the 2025 FamilyLife Love Like You Mean It Cruise where we had the opportunity to lead a breakout session...

We spent last Sunday worshipping at Redeemer Bible Church in Greenwood, Indiana with our friends Pastor Brock and Arica Graham. Brock...

Shortly after I walk over the welcome mat, I’m greeted with the words, “Welcome home”. I say, “Thanks”, to which I hear “You’re welcome.”...

This week I saw a clip  of a recent sermon by Louie Giglio in which he resurrected one of his most powerful illustrations. Around 2004...

Wicked (onstage or on a screen), The Wizard of Oz (the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum or the 1939 film), or The Wiz. Whichever version you...

Twenty four hours ago, I had never heard the names Wesley Huff or Billy Carson. And I had never listened to an episode of The Joe Rogan...

Stepping into a New Year, I find myself caught in a familiar trap: perfectionism paralysis.  Like many recovering perfectionists, every...

Learning to be a parent of adult kids is proving to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn.  As I write this, I’ve been...

“You’re a dirty, rotten sinner.” It was one of the most often repeated statements from the pastor of the church I attended for thirteen...

I asked my favorite A.I. bot, “What was the most significant thing that happened on December 17, 1994?”  Apparently there is a debate...