Grace Exposed

My prayer on this day of remembrance, September 11th. God, our Creator and Guide: Today, we remember. We remember that day, the 11th of September 2001. For many of us, we vividly recall exactly where we were and what we were doing when all hell seemed to break loose. As those planes collided into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center Towers, we shook in disbelief and then with shock as…

Juxtaposing military chaplaincy with civilian ministry through the fourfold framework of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness (CAF) By Chaplain Michael J. Breznau Many parallels exist between the responsibilities of military chaplains and civilian clergy. However, the challenges and opportunities of military life result in distinct differences within a chaplain’s ministry. The following juxtaposes…

Guys have a certain phrase they throw around when someone excels – has it all together. You know what I mean: the biceps, chiseled abs, muscle car in the barn, a great career – the one who can still pole vault and finish an ironman triathlon: “You are “The Man“! We all have a picture of what it would be like to be “The Man” – the Top Dog, Top Gun, or Alpha of the pack. A lot of us men strive…

The fragrance of freshly baked pecan pumpkin pie wafted through the air. The chatter of children echoed throughout my parents’ home. Holiday weekend! Just then, my recently turned 8-year-old son, Carson, reached out his hand to be held in mine. I cherish these moments. Time races on. I’ll blink a few times, and my little boy will suddenly be 16 years old… and reaching out for the car…

“How we live our days is how we live our lives,” someone once remarked. On our return home from youth group last week at Faircreek Church, I diverted upward into a poignant hillside cemetery overlooking Beaver Valley. Humorous questions erupted from our back seats (we now max-out our minivan with 7): “Dad! Where are we going?! Why are we driving into a cemetery? Is that a real tomb?! I think…

Celebrating my 40th birthday at USAF Officer Training School was rather underwhelming. However, I did happen to procure an MRE with M&M’s on the big day last May, which brightened my afternoon of field training. But upon our return to the base that weekend, I received a gift shipment from my incredible wife and kiddos. Inside was a beautiful cherrywood box with a handsome compass nestled in the…

This past Monday afternoon, I received the tragic news that a close friend suddenly died of a heart attack. I am still in shock. Pastor Ken Pierpont was my long-time mentor, confidant, and pastor-colleague. 20 years ago, I served under him in an inner-city ministry team in Flint, MI. In 2006, he enthusiastically wrote a reference letter for me to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. That same…

God is Faithful.   This coming June, my wife and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. The time has flown by like the blink of an eye. We’ve had our share of “ups and downs” – dark valleys and beautiful mountaintops. The pressures of tight finances, a special-needs child, and multiple miscarriages have, at times, strained our relationship. Exuberant joy also marks our marriage as we reflect on…

“Take the step!” I can still hear the words of the slightly irritated Drill Instructor clanging across my memory. He continued in the face of the reluctant young man, “Step off the edge! You can do this!”   We were learning high-angle rescue on the side of a 100’ limestone cliff. The first skill to obtain was basic rappelling. In my previous years on the wild side, I spent many afternoons…

  Political unrest. Global uncertainty. Societal division. Schoolroom violence. Corporate corruption. One glance at the 6pm broadcast or a social media feed gives us a smack-in-the-face reminder that the 24-hour news cycle marches on with negativity and collective anxiety. Songwriter Andrew Peterson recently lyricized: “Do you feel the world is broken? We do. Do you feel the shadows deepen? We…

Hope is alive! Lately, my kids have been hoping for snow. The winters are clearly milder down here in southern Ohio than they were in Michigan. We’ve had a few scattered snow showers – even a dusting – over the past couple of months. But, alas, no actual accumulation. Still, they are holding onto hope that the forecast will soon turn favorable for Frosty the Snowman. They have dreams and prayers…

For A Change   We flipped the calendar to a new year! 2024. What does this mean? Change. Some of us have a list of New Year’s resolutions: ways we desire change in our personal lives, careers, families, or finances. Others among us will simply attempt to change the wiring in our brains so that we write “2024” instead of “2023” on our cheques and memos. With the unseasonably warm temperatures,…

[Video of my message “MISSION: Vitals (part 2) – Mark 8:22-35 with some big news, along with some information and a prayer from two of our elders]  The first message I preached at Mayfair Bible Church was entitled “Following the Mission of the Messiah” from Mark 8:22-38. This beautiful, thought-provoking passage describes Jesus’ healing of the blind man from Bethsaida in two-stages. The scene is…

2 Vital Guides for the 2023 Trail

I love to hike through forests, across mountain tundra, and along crystal-clear bubbling streams. A highlight of this past summer was my hike (and mild climb) to the summit of Byers Peak outside of Fraser, Colorado. The air was crisp, the snow was white, and the sun was bright. A picture-perfect, beautiful day for time on a well-worn trail! But I would never begin a hike up a mountain without two…

We Adore | Christmas Poem 2022

This past week, I penned a poem to point my heart back toward the great and grand story of the Christ. Christmas poems are something I enjoy sharing with my friends. So, here’s a video of this spoken word piece I’ve entitled “We Adore.” I’m praying you, too, are pointed near to the heart of God’s redeeming grace. Merry Christmas, loved ones! We Adore By Pastor Michael J. Breznau  | Christmas Eve…

Don’t Praise God for the Flu but…

Last month, of course, was Decision 2022. Newsmedia syndicates are aiming to keep the interest churning for at least another several weeks. But looking back, certain anxieties, concerns, and opinions welled up in our minds leading up to election day. Yet we, as followers of Jesus the Lord, pivot to prayer – the act of demonstrating our dependence on the One who is sovereign and coming…

ad·vent /ˈadˌvent/ Advent  noun the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. appearance dawn birth coming nearing advance the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays. The coming or second coming of Christ. Most of us are familiar with the season of Advent leading up to Christmas Day. A quick stroll through the grocery…