In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo Baggins quotes what has become one of my favorite Holy Week poems. Of course, in the context of the Hobbit’s recitation, this poem is about the return of the King of Gondor, who serves as one of several poignant Christ-figures in the trilogy. … [Read More…] April 10, 2022
Well, we’re going back to school! For several years now, Krista and I have been thinking and praying about continuing our education. We love school. We met in college at Cedarville University. Our early married days were spent side-by-side getting theological education at Dallas Theological Seminary. And now we get to do it … [Read More…] April 3, 2022
Spring is on the horizon! Daffodil shoots are emerging and buds are beginning to swell as temperatures rise and rain waters the earth. It’s hard to believe Easter is just around the corner. Resurrection Sunday is coming. And Jesus is alive and changing lives here in Chicago! In one of our recent membership … [Read More…] March 27, 2022
Times are hard. Inflation is rising. Budgets are stretched. I want to remind you of the good work our Fellowship Committee is doing to come alongside those in our church family who could use a little help. Pastor Larry McCarthy shared these thoughts with me, and I wanted to pass them along to … [Read More…] March 20, 2022
Like you, I continue to be gripped and grieved by the situation in Ukraine. Someone asked me the other day how we should be praying. I thought I’d share these ten ideas with you as well: Pray that God would redeem this situation by drawing many people to Himself. Pray that many would … [Read More…] March 13, 2022
As the world reels and convulses over the invasion of Ukraine, we are prone to ask, “Where is God in all of this?” Whenever I feel unhinged by the uncertainties of this world, one of my go-to passages is Daniel 7. The prophet Daniel is living in exile in Babylon when he has … [Read More…] March 6, 2022
Jesus means business. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is not beating around the bush. He’s going straight for the heart and the foundations of who we are. We might have hoped our lives were only in need of some light renovation and cosmetic improvements, but Jesus knows this is a tear-down and … [Read More…] February 27, 2022
I’m so grateful for our Kids’ and Student Ministries here at The Moody Church. We believe our kids and teens are not the future of the church … they are the church. We are a multigenerational family and we love how God is moving in the lives of our young people. Just a … [Read More…] February 20, 2022
This Sunday we’re considering Jesus’ teaching on the dangers of cultivated lust in our hearts. I’m reminded of King David and that scandal of his sexual sin and abuse. David’s story serves as a warning of the destructivness of lust. It also serves to remind us that there is hope for sexual sinners. David’s … [Read More…] February 13, 2022
Sitting on my desk is a beautiful and hot-off-the-press copy of a pictorial autobiography of our very own George and Hilda Sweeting entitled Full Circle. Dr. Sweeting served as the 14th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church from 1966 to 1971; he then transitioned into the role of president of Moody Bible Institute until … [Read More…] February 6, 2022
