Posts with the category “perspectives-from-pastor-pete”

Have you ever seen eggs this pale?You have if you’ve taken advantage of the “free” hotel breakfast lately. I’m not sure what their secret is — or how they achieve this particular shade of the lightest yellow.I’m guessing years of culinary training lie behind it. To get eggs this pale and watery, they must source chickens that are both pure white and extremely well-hydrated.Obviously, I’m saying al...  Read More

Let’s talk about the devil.Now, don’t be alarmed. This isn’t going to be a scary conversation.That’s because — at least here in Austin — the devil is nothing but a cartoon character. The great enemy of God’s people has shape-shifted into a harmless little demon named Torchy, advertising his “D_ _ N Good” tacos.Let me be clear. I’m not here to condemn the little guy for the stuff he’s selling. His ...  Read More

The sidewalk prophets have struck again.LORD4giveME.For anyone aware of their screw-ups and sins, this prayer prompt can be sweet medicine.Grateful for the unexpected reminder, I lower myself to the pavement. Straining to get the shot, I squint heavenward.I feel out of place down here. Contorted. Awkward. Exposed.I’m no longer in control.But maybe a repositioning is necessary for the experience.If...  Read More

As the final days of summer drag along, the Creator reaches for a palette of brown, tan, and burnt yellow. The handful of humans who inhabit this season gaze upon brittle stems and dropping leaves and wonder aloud whether any life could possibly be left.But God smiles.Looking kindly upon both plants and people, He says:“Don’t rush me. I’m not finished yet.”—Pastor Pete“This is what the Sovereign L...  Read More

As an Iowa native, I have a love-hate relationship with cornfields.Perhaps you share my love for these fields and the fruit that flows from them. It would be a pity if you had never savored the buttery juice of summer sweet corn dribbling down over your chin, arms and elbows. And if you’ve driven the length of the “flyover states,” you’ve certainly come to appreciate the hypnotic monotony of green...  Read More

Hey friends, Pastor Pete here. And yes, this is really me writing, as it is every week.But I have to admit that this week’s photo isn’t entirely real. My friend Jason used Artificial Intelligence to place my image in front of several racks of servers his company uses to power AI.And although I don't always love AI, I admit that an AI revolution is upon us.Today I returned a call from my doctor’s o...  Read More

Last weekend I sat with our ACTS family and squirmed under a sermon called, “When Busyness Gets the Best of Us.” The speaker (who definitely won’t be invited back) wondered aloud whether our nonstop flurry of human activity might actually be a poorly disguised attempt to assert control over the world.Don’t you hate it when God’s Word hits its intended target?In Luke 10, Jesus is invited into the h...  Read More

For those who don't know me, I am Jeff Schneider. My lovely wife Mara and I are parents to Ian and Erik who were on stage recently — along with Grace, Quinten, and Pastor Pete — witnessing their Belize mission trip experience. You saw (and perhaps felt yourself) emotions on stage; those were real, I felt them. Mara and I were lucky enough to meet up with the entire mission group, some 35 strong, a...  Read More

"The long weekend."For pastors, those words are often code for a multi-day marathon of sermon preparation, ministry events, Bible studies, worship services, and appointments. Rarely do they describe slipping away for a few days of renewal and rest.But recently, some dear friends from Minnesota extended a Christ-like invitation to "come away" with them "to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:3...  Read More