by Andrew Beard | Dec 15, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
The other day, my teen and preteen boys got into a scuffle… you know… like brothers often do. And one of them hit the other in the face.
The one who got hit winced and said,
“Ah! You hit me in the eye. I saw a glint of light.”
Now, obviously, I’m against violence. I hate when my kids scuffle. I do not think attacking one another is a helpful solution, whether in words or actions.
But do you know what I was proud of in that moment?
My son used the phrase “glint of light.”
When is the last time you used the word glint? Probably not recently… and definitely not as your first response to an injury.
But do you know why he said that word?
Because it’s one of his vocab words right now. He’s been studying it, so much so that it’s steeped into his life and flowed out of him naturally.
by Andrew Beard | Dec 9, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
In the silly Christmas movie Spirited, starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, we get a modern riff on the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. It’s a ridiculous and funny adaptation set to music and dancing. It’s PG-13, so I am by no means suggesting you sit down with the whole family to watch it, but there are some really clever and lovely moments.
by Andrew Beard | Dec 2, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
This is the season of Advent. I know for most of us, we just think of it as Christmas, but Advent is a season of waiting, a season of preparation, where our hearts and minds lean into the need for our coming King. We anticipate His arrival just as our ancient brothers and sisters did 2,000 years ago.
And yes, this season means all the extra things: desserts, hot cocoa, calories, Christmas gatherings, presents, debt, Mariah Carey, and more… but also the onslaught of terrible Christmas movies.
I know some of you love these things… specifically my wife… but I cannot stand them. They are so bad.
by Andrew Beard | Oct 22, 2025 | The Tower
Explore this Tower to celebrate baptisms and dedications, engage in scripture, get excited about youth group, gear up for Christmas, learn about Affiliation membership, find out how you can participate in our Advent Guide and find out more about outreach partners!
by Andrew Beard | Dec 16, 2024 | Christmas, Words from Pastor Andrew
Five years ago this week, I ran my first marathon. I’ve shared before how I’m built with short, stocky legs and a stout body—not exactly a runner’s physique, less like a gazelle galloping through the woods and more like a pig on a treadmill.
Nonetheless, I completed my first marathon, which, to this day, remains the only marathon I’ve run.
The Dallas Marathon is generally a great experience. It usually enjoys favorable weather, has very few hills, and runs through beautiful neighborhoods, starting and ending downtown. The halfway mark wraps around White Rock Lake, which evokes a love/hate response among runners. The crowds have cleared out, it’s lonely, and you’re the at the furthest point out in the race.
Right after you curve around the lake, there’s a slight elevation that provides a clear view of downtown Dallas—13.1 miles away…and you have to run to get there.
For me, in that moment, in the middle of the race, I thought to myself,
“Maybe I could just collapse, and they’d carry me across the finish line. But would I still get the medal?”
