Stuck near the end of the Lord’s Prayer is the line “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Christians around the world pray this prayer daily. Yet, still, many of us succumb to “temptations” of all types. Is the prayer wrong? Or, have we failed to understand its meaning? I reflect on … [Read more…]
We love grace. For good reason, we all need it. We are all screw ups. We are all failures. We are all rebels going our way, building our kingdom, rather than God’s. We are endless consumers of grace. But, Jesus talked about grace as more than merely something to be consumed. Jesus demanded his disciples … [Read more…]
Every time a tragedy strikes we hear people offering their “thoughts and prayers.” While we have to assume the offering is genuine, why don’t our “thoughts and prayers” seem to change anything? In this second installment of a six-week teaching series based on the Lord’s Prayer, I reflect on the difference between our “thoughts and … [Read more…]
I continue the “Love Does” teaching series by considering one of the biggest reasons many fail to act on the love God calls us to have for others – fear. What are you afraid of? What lines are you afraid to cross? What rules are you afraid to break in the name of love?
I’m excited to be able to add a new feature on this page called “Tom Talks.” In addition to working as a hospice chaplain, a local elected official, and photographer/videographer, I’m blessed to serve as the Lead Pastor of The Hills Church. The Hills Church isn’t like most churches. The Hills Church is an awesome, … [Read more…]