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Staff Trax

Come to the Well

I adore stories of Jesus going out of his way to engage with those who are shunned by others, like lepers, Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, the thief on the cross. He knew everything about them, yet still sought them out to heal, forgive, and bring them new life. It was these people as much as his devoted disciples who spread the good news of God’s love to their communities.

This Sunday…

Called to Season and Shine

This Sunday in Matthew, Jesus is telling us to be salt and light to the world. We have lots of great examples of being the light: Jesus is the Light of the world; the Light shines in the darkness; “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” But, let’s face it, salt is tricky. Salt can be exactly what you need, but can completely overpower if there’s just a little too much. If…

The Signs of Epiphany

This Sunday we will celebrate the Magi giving their precious gifts to Jesus, as we prepare for the season of Epiphany. Did you know that many countries celebrate gifts from the Magi instead of Santa? Children in Latin America write letters to the Magi detailing their good behavior and asking for presents, while children in Spain leave straw in their shoes by the door for the Magi’s horses on the…

Grateful List

Thanksgiving is my favorite. No extra performances or gifts, just food, family, friends, and focusing on being thankful. Here’s my grateful list:

Happy, healthy kids: Each of my kids started a new level of school this year. In the years between toddlers and teenagers, the question is always, “What do I do to help this kid become a nice human?” As they grow, their influences…

How Do You Describe Your Faith?

I have a dear friend who didn’t grow up in the church and decided to read the Bible to figure out his faith. I regret not suggesting he start with the New Testament and then go back to the Old — he got so bogged down by all of the laws and stories of God’s wrath that he never got to the stories of Jesus and God’s love and mercy. Much later we both went through a very difficult time, and…

We Pray for Blessings

There’s a song we’ve sung over the years at Salem titled “Blessings” that says, “What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if 1,000 sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?”

It was written by Laura Story after her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor and their prayers for healing were not being answered.…

Raising the Heat

I’m not a fan of conflict. Thankfully, I didn’t have to deal with it much growing up; my extended family all got along and went out of their way to spend happy time together. My parents always “presented a united front” to us, so we never saw them argue, or really even disagree. They both knew several foreign languages, so perhaps some of the negotiation was in front of us, but we didn’t…

Salem Kids

I think we can all agree that youth and children’s programming across the board took a hit during the pandemic. And yet, I’m so thankful for Lorel Brown, Lisa Taylor, Charlotte Wallenburg, and all of the volunteers who have found creative ways to support our kids at Salem.

Next week’s musical camp is something I have missed very much in the last two summers, and I can’t wait to spend…

Gathered in My Name

I love that our building in Lenexa that houses our staff offices, Pantry Pack, and fellowship area is named “Koinonia Hall.” I remember when we voted on that name, and how very long it took me to remember how to pronounce and spell it!

Did you know that the word fellowship is derived from the Greek word koinonia? Merriam-Webster defines koinonia as “the Christian…

Growing Up at Salem

This June is my 12-year anniversary of becoming Salem’s worship and music director. This Sunday, my oldest child will be honored as one of Salem’s promising seniors graduating high school. Casey was in first grade when Salem became our church family.

When you come on Sunday, you will see many memories of this fantastic class of 2022 as they grew up at Salem. Together they have learned,…

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