Several decades ago, I attended a Christian discipleship seminar. The leader challenged us to think hard about what kind of music we listened to, so as not to be unaware of things which subtly influenced us. I still remember his litany of caution: “Anything held constantly before the mind becomes a part of you.” For…

I think I now have every single book that Frederich Buechner ever wrote, and they have been a rich trove of meaningful quotes for my faith, sermons or teaching. Despite having a decidedly cerebral approach to life and faith, a major turning point in Buechner’s life involved a miraculously mundane incident. In Telling Secrets, Buechner…

I had a lot of time to think, pray and contemplate this month, in a wide array of locations. Vacation took me to a rooftop deck in Jersey City, NJ while visiting our daughter Dana, son-in-law Ted and first grandchild, Ellie Anne!  (Just ask, I can send you hundreds of pictures). A train enroute to…

In my most recent conversation with an inquiring congregation, the question was raised: “Why would we join the Fellowship?” This was not the first time that I have received this question or something similar to it. Questions like, “What does the TFC have to offer us?”  or, “What will we gain from joining with this group?” I have to...

Last weekend, we were reminded that we live in a fallen world.  We live in a fallen country and that we are all fallen men and women. Last weekend there were shots fired and casualties taken as an attempted assassination of former President Trump. Our response is not speaking of political alignments. I am not speaking of platform agendas. I…

I was probably twenty years old, in college and volunteering as a Young Life leader working with high school kids. One of the area staffers asked if I wanted to meet him for coffee. We did, sitting in a coffee shop somewhere, catching up on life and ministry and then…he asked the question. “So, what’s…

On what is seemingly a regular occurrence, and increasingly so when we think of the pressures of the immediate days upon us, I find myself fielding some variation of the question, “What is The Fellowship Community?” I almost immediately reframe the question to, “Who is The Fellowship Community?” The answer to either of these questions is profoundly…

When we left Los Angeles five years ago and moved to pastor a small church in Northern California, it felt similar to other moves we’ve made–more of a call than a decision. We’ve never experienced the sense of deciding where we wanted to live geographically, or what kind of church to be part of, or…

Nearly a quarter-century ago I was a seminarian and wrestling with a surprise calling to become a pastor. I had been certain that God was calling me to become a professor, but after spending a summer serving as an intern at a PC(USA) church I was received by them with open arms, becoming a member…

I’m pretty sure it was Stephen Covey, back in the day (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) who originally said, “The main thing is to let the main thing be the main thing.”  Indeed. So there I was last week, waiting for a friend to join me at the Bad Ass Coffee shop–there are…

Nashville, we are coming for you!  Many of us are descending onto the musical motherland, known as Nashville. In fact, if you are reading this prior to Tuesday April 23rd, it is not too late to join us. For many of us, the opportunity to gather annually serves as a boost in the arm, while for others it…

Whew. I’m dragging just a little. It’s a few days after Easter. The season has been full of richness, but I’m a bit tired. I’ve written daily Lenten devotionals, newsletter columns, poems, sermons, Bible studies and planned out special services. I love what I get to do. And…I’m low on internal energy.  Perhaps you are…

I suppose that you have already ordered your plane ticket, or charted your route with great anticipation of joining together with us, your faith family, at next month’s National Gathering.  It is going to be an absolutely great time of encountering the Lord, being refreshed as we sit together under the Word, finding encouragement in “fellowship,”…

I wonder how you feel about Lent right now. We’re about 3/4 of the way through this season leading towards Easter. Holy Week is approaching. For some of us, Lent doesn’t mean much beyond a mention or two in worship on a Sunday morning. But others are practicing various disciplines, reflection or confession, and that…

“Things are a wreck, violence is everywhere, morality is at an all-time low and the Church of Jesus is more problem than solution.” One way or another, I hear some version of this every week. Most of the time, I have to just nod and agree. Are things worse than at other times in history?…

It was nearly a year ago, when I found myself immersed in the conversations of how and what’s next for TFC. At the time, serving as a Board member, many were talking about how to diversify, how to grow younger, and how to become increasingly better neighbors. Those conversations eventually gave way to the opportunity…

I love the New Year. I do. I love fresh starts, new beginnings, a resetting of priorities. Everything is possible. The snow (not in Santa Rosa, CA, of course) feels fresh and the skies look blue. I’ve organized new calendars for home and office, paid the bills, run a lot of miles, finished a couple…

Just before Advent, I finished a sermon series on King David. It wasn’t long, just eight sermons, but for those two months I lived and breathed David. After I finished the final sermon, a friend asked “So, what did you take away from the David story for yourself, your own life?”  My unfiltered answer was…

TFC is excited to host an in person AND online gathering with Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley, President of Fuller Theological Seminary Christ-centered Faith and the Mission of God Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:00 am – 2:00 pm pacific In person at La Cañada Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall La Cañada Flintridge, CA $20 for lunch Online…

Pastor, you are God’s beloved. Even if your church like mine faces overwhelming odds – in deep need of soul revival, visionary co-laborers, and ministry re-birth. God knows these burdens are too big for you and me. If we make these our goals, we might feel deeply unloved, overlooked, unheard. Some of us may even…