You may wonder why Tenth has an afternoon service every Sunday. This is how it came about, and what it is all about. If you have been at Tenth for a while, you may know about Tenth International Fellowship, a worship service that was designed to include our international friends and be sensitive to cross cultural communication and unfamiliarity with Christian worship. More recently, we changed the name to the International Outreach (IO) service. Prior to the start of the […]

“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain —and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” Exodus 18:21 Good leadership should always be replicating itself. In Exodus 18 we see that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, knew that as he gave advice to Moses in finding leaders to help with the oversight of the Israelites as they traveled on their way to the promised land. We at Tenth are continually […]

A couple of weeks ago we started to share regarding Tenth’s Global Partners who will be receiving funds from our Easter Sacrificial Offering this year. In Europe, our partner, Gethin Jones and his wife Katie, will be planting a new church in Lille, France.  Gethin has been serving as a pastor in France for many years, and with the support of their denomination, the International Presbyterian Church, they are launching out to a new city to plant a new church […]

The cluster of villages in the shadows of the Himalayas are an anthropologist’s dream: the exquisite wooden courtyard homes and the fertile lands at eight thousand feet elevation provide shelter and work for the P. peoples, one of the last matriarchal societies in the world. Property rights are handed down through the woman’s lineage and “walking marriage” is practiced widely, where the man visits the woman at night but then returns to his sister’s house the next morning to help […]

I have never enjoyed speaking publicly about the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. As a courtesy, I once announced to our church through email that I would be speaking on this issue in a sermon. A variety of strong opinions about my sermon soon landed in my inbox. I received all of them before I gave the sermon. Even before we open our mouths on the subject, the heat gets turned up. I don’t like stirring up a hornet’s nest. I want people and […]

Have you ever heard of the word “automaticity”? It’s a fancy term for the ability of the body to act without the brain thinking, often when processes become “over-learned.” A common–but scary!–instance of automaticity is referred to as “highway hypnosis.” Have you ever pulled into the driveway after the commute home from work and realized you can’t remember a single part of the trip? You don’t recall stopping at any lights, making any turns, adjusting the radio, even. And yet, […]

As a Director of Music, Christmas 2021 was my worst nightmare! Last year, we had to cancel Lessons and Carols services because of a breakout of COVID among the musicians at Tenth. As preparations are now well underway for our Christmas services this year, I am reminded of another church musician who also had some Yuletide challenges. In 1818, Franz Gruber, organist and choirmaster at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria just north of Salzburg, found himself having to prepare […]

Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Among those who know me I mention Rahab [Egypt] and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush [Ethiopia] — “This one was born there,” they say. Psalm 87:3-4 Psalm 87 is an amazing Psalm that says that the nations will be “born in Zion, the city of God.” They will be considered native-born citizens of the city of God, equal to the Israelites in salvation!  His salvation is for all […]

First Thessalonians 5:14 urges us to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with them all. Have you ever felt inadequate for the task?  I clearly remember many moments where I have failed in this area. A non-believing family member of mine once came to me in desperation after a diagnosis that signaled life on earth is fleeting. I stumbled over many words that day, unsure of how to comfort and how to graciously address […]