Every morning we wake up with a series of choices to make. What will we wear? What will we have for breakfast? What time will we leave for work? But there is one choice that is perhaps the most import...  Read More

The Need for RestWe need rest. Yet, rest is not easy for any of us. In fact, it might be more difficult to rest today than at any other point in history. Increased job insecurity, added to advancement...  Read More

The human body is fascinating. From bones and muscles, the senses and the brain, to how we grow and heal, God designed our bodies with care and intention. Equally fascinating is what the human body ne...  Read More

Most of you didn’t know me as church-planter Matt Townsend. You’ve only known me as Pastor Matt—or just Matt. But there was a version of me, years ago, who carried a very prideful and distorted view o...  Read More

Who is God? What is His character? Those are big questions! I have been wrestling with these questions all my life. Is God good? Why does He allow suffering? Does He love me? Is He faithful even when ...  Read More

Jake and I recently celebrated our one year of moving to Pennsylvania, and during this anniversary, I thought back about my initial feelings about moving. Something I was particularly nervous about wa...  Read More

I have a curious fascination with shows about hoarders. I “Ooo” and “Ahhh” and “I can’t believe it!” through the show, expressing disbelief that people could live with all that extra “stuff.” It often...  Read More

The Secret to CourageWhen I was a freshman in college, I got a job working as a worship leader at a summer camp near my hometown. It might not seem like a big deal, but for me, it was an exciting oppo...  Read More

There is a technique in writing called “show, don’t tell.” The idea is that readers should feel as if they are in the story. For example, instead of simply writing that a character is walking in a gar...  Read More

Where Does Boldness Come From?I know what you're thinking… Ugh, not another blog telling me to put on my big-boy pants and badger people about Jesus!I get it. Sharing our faith can feel overwhelming. ...  Read More

When I was a young girl, my parents enrolled me in swim lessons. I did fairly well when it came to swimming inside the pool, but not so much when it came to diving. All the other kids would somewhat s...  Read More

The Message is the MethodIn today’s world, someone is always trying to sell you something. Maybe it’s the new miracle exercise routine that will shave off those stubborn pounds. Or a shiny car that pr...  Read More