Dear West – 21 February 2019

I have spent most of my life desperately trying to fit in and to be accepted by people who didn’t even care about me all that much. That is immense folly for children of grace. I don’t want to waste any more time and energy on that. I long to be able to say with the apostle Paul, “…by the grace of God, I am what I am”. That isn’t a prideful arrogance that refuses to be changed. That is a humble acceptance of the acceptance of God. That is a truly liberating thing! That is a freedom I desire.

March 4, 2019

Week on The Web – 22 February 2019

SBC. Divorce and remarriage. Purity ring statues. Terrorism. Austin. Rugby. Teenaged pastors. Football. Lots to pick from this week.

February 22, 2019

40 Thoughts on My 40th Birthday

I turned 40 today which means that I finally have an excuse for my crankiness and I also have the duty to share all of my gathered wisdom with an unsuspecting world. So here are 40 thoughts that no one asked for in no particular order.

January 24, 2019

Dear West – 20 December 2018

Two days ago, the Lester family marked the one year anniversary of our arrival in the US. I cannot believe it has been a year! We arrived tired, smelly, confused and a little fearful and have more or less remained in that state for the rest of the year. It has been a most marvelous adventure!

December 31, 2018

Dear West – 5 April 2018

Austin was once again voted as the best city in the US to live. This is incredible news and should lead us to prayerful response as Christian Austinites. As I thought it through with Sue this afternoon, I think there are six prayerful ways we should respond.

December 31, 2018

Dear West – February 2018

Once a week I write a pastoral letter to the good people of the West Congregation of the Austin Stone Community Church. I will occasionally add some of those letters here. Dear West Family I can’t believe that we have been in Austin for two months already. We have loved our time so far, just... Continue Reading →

December 31, 2018

When You Immigrate You Also Emigrate: Lessons in How To Do Both Well

What we have realized though is that to arrive somewhere is simultaneously to leave somewhere else, and that in order to be immigrants to somewhere you also have to be emigrants from somewhere else. Our desire therefore hasn’t just been to be good arrivers in a new place, but also to be good leavers of our previous place.

April 27, 2018