Surfing the Inner N8

Insights & Outsights from a Guy Trying to Follow Jesus

  • Bad News Christians

    Jesus tells His followers to share the good news. Somewhere along the way some folks have gotten mixed up and decided this means to actually share the gospel (literally “good news”) as though it was bad news. It goes something like this: “People are really messed up and the Bible says it’s only going to Continue reading

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  • Bible Myth Myth #1: Jonah Could Not Have Been Swallowed By A Whale

    The story of Jonah is a favorite target among those who like to ridicule the Bible.  The argument has two legs: First of all, no one could get swallowed by a whale and survive.  Second, the Bible says Jonah was swallowed by a fish, and a whale is a mammal, not a fish. But both Continue reading

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  • Bible Myth Myths

    Periodically over the next few weeks I’m going to post a series on Bible Myth Myths. For centuries, opponents of the Bible have attempted to discredit it by comparing it to pagan mythology.  The word “myth” has now become a tool of subtle manipulation.  Frequently someone will assume a pretense of intellectual superiority by claiming Continue reading

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  • Why I Switched Churches

    I love High Tide Church.  When Carolyn and I were looking for a new church home early last summer, I was excited to discover that High Tide (in Frankford, Delaware) is only about the same distance away from Ocean Pines (where we live) as the south end of Ocean City.  We visited a worship service Continue reading

  • Death of a Christian

                    Yesterday I posted a comment online that has raised some questions and objections.  So I thought I would take a moment to clarify what I meant.  I wrote: “Saying a Christian lost a battle with cancer is like saying Jesus lost a battle with a cross.”  When someone dies from cancer, it’s very common Continue reading

  • Don’t Ignore–Forgive

    This morning as I was driving my four-year-old daughter to preschool, she taught me a valuable life lesson.  Laura Marie was telling me about a boy who had said some mean things to her and some other girls.  In response, I pulled out the old time-worn parental adage, “When he says something mean to you, Continue reading

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  • Memorable Ministry Moment #5

    In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, some memorable ministry moments: The fifth ministry moment, and the last one for this month, happened late at night and consisted of a phone call lasting all of about eight seconds.  It was January 2, 2012.  Carolyn, Laura Marie, and I had been in Northern Virginia for a few Continue reading

  • Memorable Ministry Moment #4

    In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, some memorable ministry moments: The fourth moment is one that powerfully impacted me during what may be the single worst moment of my life.  On October 3, 2011, one of the world’s best brain surgeons told us that my 58-year-old father-in-law would not live much longer.  After he performed Continue reading

  • Memorable Ministry Moment #3

    In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, some memorable ministry moments: The third incident took place on one of the scariest days of my life.  It was February, 2011.  I was home with Laura Marie.  Her grandparents, Steve and Linda Doherty, were visiting.  Laura Marie was sick and had been to the doctor just that morning.  Continue reading

  • Memorable Ministry Moment #2

    In honor of Pastor Appreciation Month, some memorable ministry moments: The second one happened in the spring of 2009.  Carolyn and I were about six weeks away from the birth of our daughter.  As the pastor at CrossWay, I had gotten to know some of the 50 or so families whose children were enrolled at Continue reading