Gleaning and Gathering

Hospitality to others starts with having a vibrant family table. While we are still developing, we are thankful for the opportunity we've had to welcome many guests to our family meals together. ------ Our Chicken and Rice Recipe 5 lbs of chicken legs 2 cups of rice 4 cups of "fluid" - water - milk - cream of chicken soup - onion soup mix Combine in a large pyrex dish (10x13.) Place...

In this episode I am looking back while looking forward. How did the farm come about? How did NDP begin? And where are we headed next. I share a "history of the future" at Victory Acres.

Sitting down with my daughter, Kaylynn, to discuss the vision of Victory Acres farm was a real treat. I'm excited to see what God is going to continue to do on this former, seven-generation family farm.

Reflections from our lives and some next steps that we are taking.

This is a recap from my message at the Gathering yesterday on power, weakness, and the tabernacling of God. (Drawing on Marva Dawn's book, Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God .) I tried to show that we are in danger of being seduced by the world into following it's pattern of power rather than following the way of Jesus in humility and weakness. "Just try to imagine that the...

In the avalanche of ideas and opportunities, how do we discern where we should focus our limited time and energies? This episode explores some of the principles that I have found helpful in the process.

Sooner or later, you will probably face a transition. This episode explores a personal transition and some observations on how to navigate them.

Trouble doubles as an opportunity for God's will and wisdom to be revealed. Am I just focusing on the problem at hand, or am I staying open to what opportunities God may be using those problems to uncover. Just some reflections from life and ministry...

"Am I communicating because I like this topic, or am I communicating because I have a clear picture of a life I want to improve?" is the question Ezra Byers asked in a recent Facebook post about writing. It set me to thinking... Where do I add value to other people's lives? That is the topic of this episode.

Are you living out of a paradigm of blessing or cursing? This week I'm reflecting on Psalms 109 and the communities of blessing in my own life.

If you get lost, is there anyone who will come looking for you? Does anyone "claim" you? Are you a part? Do you "belong?" These are some questions that I've been chewing on this past week, and it is the topic of this episode of Gleaning and Gathering.

Sitting down with the leadership trainees of this year's NDP summer training program was a lot of fun! We discussed some of the lessons that they are learning through the program and how it is helping them to develop their individual strengths. See what you think!

Learning the discipline of celebrating well is something that I'm still working on, but this past week our NDP team took a day to celebrate.

While most Christians would agree that spiritual friendship is important, many see it as a beautiful luxury for which they don't have time or energy. Seeing spiritual friendship as a spiritual discipline necessary for the development of our spiritual life is not the view that everyone shares. In this episode I explore the concept ,along with excerpts from Spiritual Friendship , the spiritual c...

June 19, 2023 Rachelle and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. In this episode, we reflect on questions like, "What would you want to tell your 20/21 year old self after 24 years of marriage?" It's a fun, free flowing conversation, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it.

This past week we hosted the Nehemiah Discipleship Program Experience at Victory Acres Farm. 40 young people from 6 different states completed the time of training and discipleship. Our word for the week was "UNITE," and our Scripture engagement passage was Ephesians 4. In a day of division, how are we as Christians to truly unite? That's the topic that I explore in this episode.

There are times as a leader when you're not ok... and that's ok. How do you keep perspective in those moments? God has used Scripture and days of prayer like this past week to help me regain His perspective.

It was fun to set up a "mobile studio" at this year's IHC in Gatlinburg, TN and talk to various friends and family members. My daughter Rebecca Himelick, a student at God's Bible College , and Ethan Hoard, a student at my alma mater, Union Bible College, are featured in this episode.

As leaders, we are surrounded by opportunity, but many of us are struggling to execute the necessary endings to provide the focus needed to get that opportunity to the finish line. I hope that a piece from my story might help you as you are processing yours.

Seventy-eight years ago on April 9, 1945 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis at the age of 44, but his life and writings continue to challenge Christians everywhere. His "experiment" in training church leaders for the German Confessing Church at Finkenwalde intrigues me, and his book The Cost of Discipleship challenges me. Running a farm dedicated to discipleship, hospitality a...

Dr. Stephen Gibson is the President of Evangelistic Faith Missions , Holiness Pilgrim Missions , and on the Board of Shepherd's Global Classroom . He was my first professor at Union Bible College and has been a long time friend and ministry partner. This episode was recorded while visiting him at his home in Southern Indiana and includes some of his story on the winding road of missions he has...

I enjoyed catching up with my friend and coworker, Keith Schaper this past week for a conversation about life, transition, and his work now in the area of donor relations at Evangelistic Faith Missions . I am thankful for the training that I received from my friend, Zach Clark at Leadership and Development Coaching. While many leaders feel called to lead, they don't fully understand that part...

A discussion about the church's role in charity and helping people to help themselves. How can we help in a way that is truly helpful? How do we help without undermining personal responsibility? How far should we go? How do we keep the safety net from becoming a hammock? How do we preserve the relationship while having hard conversations? As with most things, there are no easy answers, but these a...

What does it mean for us to be the church, and what is God calling us to as His people to be? Is it enough to just "have church," or is God calling us to more? I explore the "Ephesians Paradigm" (thank you Dr. Stephen Gibson) and my own experiences in making a case for the church being more than just a "dispenser of religious goods and services." I believe that the church is intended to be the Bod...

Rebecca, our second daughter, turned 20 this past week. It got me to thinking about the changing seasons of parenting. My encouragement and admonition to young parents is, "Keep your eye on the ball! You have a narrow window of opportunity."