Category: personal
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Hope that Does Not Put Us to Shame
Early this week, I found myself staring at the daunting task ahead. A quarter of my time has already passed for support-raising, and as I evaluated the results so far, I felt the creeping weight of doubt. Will I reach the goal? Some days, it just seems insurmountable. To make matters harder, I was receiving…
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Coherently Incoherent
This past week was a mix of joy, exhaustion, and an eclectic variety of meetings. At one point, I joked with a friend that this is what happens when two people with executive experience become individual contributors. We both have spent years setting direction, coaching others, and thinking strategically. But in this project, we’re just…
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Meekness, Humility, and Humiliation
In the trials I experienced during the fall of 2023, one of the most profound insights I received came during a conversation with a friend. As we worked through conflict, he encouraged me to ask God for and pursue meekness. The word struck me. I have always relied on intelligence, and leadership roles have often…
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From Faith, By Faith, and For Faith
In this transition to a new season of ministry, I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the journey God has led us through. I have often described this interstitial season as a feeling of “wandering in the wilderness,” which is an allusion to Israel and Exodus. While I can’t see fully what lies ahead, I…
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2025 Theme: Patience and Presence
As we step into 2025, the dawn of a new year in our culture is an invitation to dream, plan, and set new goals. As a leader in the church and God’s kingdom, I have found this cultural rhythm to be a good opportunity to prayerfully consider what God may desire to do in my…
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Merry Christmas from the Engstrom Family
I pray you are reminded of the infinite value of our Savior this Christmas…may He bring you joy and rest! I’ll be picking back up blogging after the new year, so until then, enjoy a fun picture of my kids:
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Remembering Ronnie Smith
The last week has been like nothing I have ever experienced before. My friend Ronnie Smith went to be with The Lord on December 5th. He was seeking to be a blessing to the Libyan people, and gave his life so that people might know Jesus. There is nothing quite so surreal as hearing a…
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It’s a…
BOY!!! It’s my great joy to introduce to you Owen Ryan Engstrom! He is 7 lbs, 1 oz, and 19.75 inches long, and completely healthy! We are praising God and rejoicing in His goodness to us! Join us in praising God! Psalm 96:6-86 Splendor and majesty are before him;strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7…
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Four Kids – Jim Gaffigan
As we prepare for the arrival for baby #4 tomorrow, we’ve been doing plenty of work. We’ve also been asking friends with four kids about what to expect, and we received a ton of wisdom. I’m thankful for friends, but I think Jim Gaffigan provides the best insight in the video below: Tomorrow begins a…
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Being a Disciple
The 2013 Verge Conference was themed around Discipleship, and has given me plenty to think about. As my family has grown and our church has continued to grow, my time is increasingly spoken for. It seems like there is always a person or a task that needs immediate attention. I’ve been convicted about the necessity…