Reverend Phillip Brooks was a famous Episcopalian preacher and author during the 1800s. A Harvard graduate and pastor, he was known for his powerful, eloquent sermons and deep spirituality. He later became the sixth bishop of Massachusetts. His big break came when he was invited to give the funeral address at President Abraham Lincoln’s memorial. Interestingly, no one remembers, quotes or refers t...  Read More

I was recently challenged by the question, “Do you have any margin in your life?” I stopped, pondered that question and although I would like to say “yes,” I must admit, the honest answer is “NO!” And it is not just because I have a busy schedule or the holiday season is upon us. I just don’t have margin built into my schedule. Even while on vacation this past week, I worked. Maybe you can relate…...  Read More

The holiday season is upon us! I see it in my neighborhood as homes are quickly filling up with lights and decorations. Christmas tree farms seem to be popping up everywhere, Christmas music is starting on the radio, Christmas movies are trending, and the National Retail Federation is projecting sales exceeding 1 trillion dollars this year for the first time ever. Queue up Andy Williams' song, “It...  Read More

Is God jealous of us or for us? Of or for? I have been giving a lot of thought lately to these two little words as they relate to jealousy, which John Dryden, a 16th century philosopher, once called “the jaundice of the soul.” The Bible calls it, “as cruel as the grave” (Song of Solomon 8:6) and a “cancer in the bones,” (Prov 14:30) while others have called it the “green-eyed monster” and “a guara...  Read More

This year has been the year of memorization in the Bucur home. This summer especially, I worked hard to help my son memorize important passages of scripture. I have focused on passages that would bring him confidence, encouragement and remind him of the faithfulness of His God. When we got to Psalm 23, my son said, "I think I know that one." I said, "Ok! Let me hear it…” He responded, "Oh it’s som...  Read More

One Sunday, after service, we received an anonymous connection card with the following question, “What does, ‘Here I raise my Ebenezer’ mean?'" Before you think, "What an odd request," you should know that we had just sang the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which contains that line. What does Ebenezer mean? And what does it mean for it to be raised?The meaning of Ebenezer originates m...  Read More

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, is the International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians. So often we forget about our brothers and sisters who stand as bold witnesses in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places to follow Christ. Hebrews 13:3 tells us to “remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”I think of the N...  Read More

“Pause, rest, trust…bring it to God.”Have you ever felt overwhelmed or unsure of yourself in the face of life’s challenges and difficult situations? Maybe you’re in the middle of one right now. Often these circumstances overwhelm us as we scramble for answers and solutions.If you are anything like me, your first response to unexpected tragedy, turmoil, and pain isn’t always praise and faith. When ...  Read More

When I dropped my son off at school this morning, I realized I forgot to tell him, “I love you.” As he was walking away, I honked the horn to get his attention, and he came back to the truck and said, “Yeah, dad?” “I love you son,” I replied. He said, “I love you too Dad,” and walked away with a smile on his face.I want to remind you this morning, “I love you!” I forget to share that often. But, m...  Read More

I want to rebrand, ASAP! You’ve probably noticed the surge of marketing rebranding that has recently occurred. Everything from Cracker Barrel to Pepsi, Adobe, LG, Walmart, Lamborghini, Nokia (didn’t even think they were still around), even Amazon. Seemingly everyone is rebranding! Consequently, I want to rebrand, ASAP.Let me explain what I mean. The acronym “ASAP” typically means “as soon as possi...  Read More

God demands to be first in your life!The book of 1 John closes with a simple warning. “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21). The New Living Translation says it this way, “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.”The famous quote by Ricky Bobby, in the movie Talladega Nights comes to mind, “If you ain't first, you're last.” This may seem ...  Read More

It’s never too late to chase your dreams!As a kid, I remember constantly being told to chase my dreams, not to sell myself short and always reach for the stars. I was encouraged by teachers, adults and my parents to have high aspirations for my life. “You can achieve anything you put your mind to,” they would say. Yet somewhere along the way, so many of us lose sight of these high aspirations. We ...  Read More