Below is a letter that I read to our First Baptist congregation May 21, 2023. God has been gracious to our family and taught us so much in life and ministry in our current context. Over the past eight years, we've had the unique opportunity to come back and invest in my home church. To … Continue reading Boonstra Family Update
Christians are Weird
"That's weird." During college, I worked at a warehouse, and "that's weird" was common in daily conversations. Typically, it would be directed at me. Yes, I'm weird. But what is the content of "weird." The content matters. This was often said because of something I claimed to believe in or how Christianity impacted what I … Continue reading Christians are Weird
Three Truths About the Cross
John Stott wrote a book some years ago entitled The Cross of Christ. In the chapter Looking Beneath the Surface, Stott says that the cross reveals three truths about ourselves and Jesus.[1] I want to reflect on these truths in this post, which is fitting for Good Friday. Truth 1: Our Sins Must Be Extremely … Continue reading Three Truths About the Cross
Despair Can Drive Us to Rely on God
2 Corinthians 2:8-10 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but … Continue reading Despair Can Drive Us to Rely on God
Valentine’s Day Observation
A few weeks ago was Valentine's day. Since my wife is a teacher, I typically head to the kids' parties. As I was attending the party of my kindergartner, a girl kept saying with a huge smile, "everyone is being so nice to me." She was smiling ear to ear because everyone in her class … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Observation
Don’t Stop Writing
When is the last time you have written anything of substance? Anything longer than a text or email? If we are not careful, writing will be a lost art. That is not healthy or good. Writing brings many benefits; below you can see a few that are especially helpful: writing brings clarity, precision, and proper … Continue reading Don’t Stop Writing
The “Just You Wait” Person
I hope that I'm never a "just you wait" person. Perhaps, I am at times. Let me explain. The "just you wait" person is someone who thinks they have been through it all. They attribute the perseverance to themselves and romanticize entire periods of their life. In doing so, they look down on all others … Continue reading The “Just You Wait” Person
Psalms and Worship
Using Psalms for worship has been a practice of the church since the beginning. Listen to these words, In what accents I addressed you, my God, when I read the Psalms of David, those faithful songs, the language of devotion which banishes the spirit of pride . . . How I addressed you in those … Continue reading Psalms and Worship
Boonstra Babble 