Isn’t it strange that some of the highlights of the city where we live are often explored and delighted in more often by tourists than by ourselves? Guests will ask about certain places they’ve read about in travel brochures, and we admit, somewhat red-faced, that we’ve never been there. The obvious go-to spots get relegated to ‘we’ll have to go there sometime’ status. But we seldom make it a priority (or is that just us?). These gems are like open secrets, hiding in plain sight, waiting for us to pay attention. Repercussions from the in-breaking of the Kingdom in Jesus likewise can be passed by with not a thought to their impact in our lives. They can get obscured by culture-driven desires to arrive, to succeed, to be noticed, to somehow overcome deep-seated shame and paralyzing fears. Yet Jesus’ coming radically transforms us, banishing our banishment, displaying the Father’s forever love, revealing our true identity, showing himself to be the sole and solely satisfying object of our desires. He’s so good! Let worship ring!
Don graduated from Regent University in 1988 and moved to France for seven years, coming back to the US briefly to marry Sue in 1990. The work in France included working in a Christian School and helping plant a church before returning in 1995. He’s been pastor of Peninsula Vineyard since 1999. He enjoys counseling, especially married couples, traveling back to France (with Sue), reading, doing Sudoku puzzles and sleuthing out good, dark chocolate. Don serves as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Peninsula, in Newport News, Virginia.