Greg Stories
A collection of Greg's written stories and teachings
for learning, leadership, and personal growth.
![Hell, Know!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1739022650185-HJS7G83F77PS29VHIA1I/20250209+Hell+Know+-+THUMBNAIL.jpg)
Hell, Know!
Curious about the mysteries of hell? Wondering what we truly know—and don't know—about eternal separation from God? Dive into an eye-opening exploration that challenges assumptions and deepens understanding. Discover why sharing our faith is as crucial as ever.
![Dysfunction Hates Boundaries!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1738259766939-T7C7ZXWBV7VLHHCMCJIK/squarespace.jpg)
Dysfunction Hates Boundaries!
Setting healthy boundaries isn’t always well received—but they’re essential for growth, leadership, and peace of mind. When people push back, how should you respond? This leadership lesson dives into why dysfunction resists boundaries and how to stand firm without guilt. Read more and learn how to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
![I Was Rescued From A Snow Coffin](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1737512256035-F3RN95LDSHWD2PH3EDQB/20250121+Valdez+Glacier+Thumbnail.jpg)
I Was Rescued From A Snow Coffin
Trapped chest-deep in snow on Alaska's Valdez Glacier, I faced a tough choice: battle the freezing night alone or swallow my pride and call for rescue. With temps dropping to 12°F and exhaustion setting in, I learned a survival lesson and was reminded of Proverbs 11:2, "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
![The Ultimate Ending](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1737132973442-Y2C0IN6BSQADHBCJGZGQ/20250119+Thumbnail+-+Ultimate+Ending.jpg)
The Ultimate Ending
Feeling like life doesn’t make sense? Joseph’s story of betrayal, slavery, and redemption points to God’s hidden hand at work. Discover how God weaves brokenness into His Ultimate Ending—a future of healing, restoration, and hope. With Revelation as the promise of ‘all things new,’ learn how to live today as people who know how the story ends. Genesis 27-50 and Revelation.
![Unresolved Endings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1736602185687-KPB9NB1U9G859K1BO0DS/20250112+Unresolved+Endings.jpg)
Unresolved Endings
For Habakkuk, this was the worst kind of unresolved ending. He’s stuck in the middle, holding onto unanswered questions. He’s living in the tension between what he knows about God—His goodness, His justice—and what he sees happening around him. It’s unnerving, painful, and deeply confusing. And maybe you’ve felt that too. When you’ve cried out for God to step in, to make things right, and instead? Silence. Or worse, an answer that makes the situation feel even more hopeless. Habakkuk’s story is one of unresolved tension, living in the messy middle where the ending isn’t clear—and the waiting feels unbearable.
![Excellent Endings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1735340864297-QJR7IP4581A1D49QMPH9/Newstart+Media+Redesign-39.png)
Excellent Endings
The way stories end matters. Endings shape how we remember the journey, affect how we process the pain and influence how we carry hope into the dozens of stories we're living all at once. Most of these stories don't wrap up neatly. More often than not, they leave us with unmet expectations and unanswered questions. And those are the hardest, aren't they? The ones where we're left crying, this can't be how this ends!
Even in those stories, there can be excellent endings! That's what this four-week series is about. Even when life gives you some stories that end in heartbreak, grief, or disappointment, God can still turn it into an excellent ending!
God has a way of stepping into our unfinished stories. He meets us right there in the middle of the mess, bringing hope where none seems possible, planting seeds of redemption in barren places. Sometimes, those seeds grow into endings we never could have imagined. Endings that remind us God is still writing, even when we think the story is over.
Interruptions
What if the shepherds had done the same thing? What if they experienced the hand of God pointing, and then when the angels left, they just sat there? What if they spent the rest of the night talking about how bright the sky looked. How loud the angels sounded. But never actually went to Bethlehem. Never ran to see what God was pointing them to. Never met Jesus. The angels’ visit wasn’t the destination. It was the pointer. And the shepherds? They didn’t just sit there. They responded. They went to Jesus.
So many people revisit Luke 2 every Christmas. But then? They walk away. Another year goes by, and nothing changes. It’s like staring at the hand of God pointing and missing where He’s pointing us.
This isn’t just about the shepherds. It’s about you. It’s about hearing the message, seeing the hand of God pointing, and responding. Because the truth is, God’s not done interrupting. And He’s not done pointing.
![When the odds are stacked against you](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1732392144428-UQA9N9F8M5FFT0JV9LDQ/20241124+When+The+Odds+Are+Stacked+Against+You.jpg)
When the odds are stacked against you
That tightening in your chest, the weight pressing down on your shoulders, the pit in your stomach that won’t go away—it’s all there, a constant reminder of just how high the odds are stacked against you. You’ve run the numbers, played out the scenarios. The clock is ticking. And there you stand, frozen, wondering if you’ve already lost before the fight even begins.
Life throws us into battles we never saw coming, when the odds tower over us. The ocean of addiction recovery you can’t swim, the ache of losing someone you love, the struggle of blending kids into a new marriage, or the weight of a devastating diagnosis. These moments leave us shaken, scared, and unsure of what to do next. But today, we will explore a path forward, even when the odds seem overwhelming. And we’ll find it through the example of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20.
![Sin that leads to death, 1 John 5:16-17](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1731802821594-EFBUGP40KPASRI53TQUR/20241117+Sin+That+Leads+To+Death+Thumbnail.jpg)
Sin that leads to death, 1 John 5:16-17
At first glance, this feels heavy, doesn’t it? Sin that leads to death? Sin that doesn’t? What’s he talking about? John’s reminding us of something crucial—sin matters. It always separates. It always distorts. But not all sin is the same. There’s the sin of a believer—a stumble, a moment of weakness. That’s the kind of sin where we step in and pray, asking God to restore them, to breathe life back into their spirit. …But then there’s the other kind of sin—the sin that leads to death.
![God, You Want Me To Do What?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1729961167769-SGVPUMK79WX2VFIQF60H/20241026+God%2C+You+Want+Me+To+Do+What%3F.jpg)
God, You Want Me To Do What?
How does tithing hit new Christians? What if it wasn’t just about rules but about freedom? Discover how giving a tithe renews the mind, reshapes priorities, builds trust in God’s provision, and shifts our perspective from temporary gains to eternal impact. Explore the ancient, faith-stretching practice of biblical stewardship in this article/video!
![Anyone Who Keeps On Sinning - 1 John 3:4-9](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1728770710455-92ZXP6NUX558KN6JHXMK/20241013+Anyone+Who+Keeps+On+Sinning+-+1+John+3-4-9.jpg)
Anyone Who Keeps On Sinning - 1 John 3:4-9
What shapes your understanding of sin? Have your views changed through theology or life experiences? This article and video briefly explore four perspectives on sin—Catholic, Calvinist, Holiness, and even atheism—while cutting through debates to focus on the application of 1 John 3:4-9. Discover what John means by "Anyone who continues in sin..."
![Antichrist Warning](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1727474345914-1HHE3D5U8Q1XL2TLCPLP/Antichrist+Thumbnail.jpg)
Antichrist Warning
What if the Antichrist isn’t just some future villain, but influences and teachers already at work in our world today? Are we too busy looking for the wrong things? John’s message in 1 John 2 reminds us to focus on what’s right in front of us. Join us as we explore how to live with hope, stay grounded in the true gospel, and resist the subtle ways our faith is challenged in everyday life.
![Guinea Pigs, Fake Money, and False Teachings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1725732589033-ZL0GVVXA1ZU9U1J1QLFI/20240908+Guinea+Pigs%2C+Fake+Money%2C+and+False+Teachings.jpg)
Guinea Pigs, Fake Money, and False Teachings
Would you know if you were eating imitation guinea pig? How about if you consumed false teachings? In 2 Peter, believers are warned about deceptive teachings that twist Scripture, appeal to sinful desires, and undermine Christ's authority. Christians must discern truth from error to stay grounded in their faith. Learn the signs and remain vigilant.
![Chopsticks and Beyond](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1725191555242-BW5PEIGJOR9UV6653L4Z/20240901+Thumbnail.jpg)
Chopsticks and Beyond
Do you know how to play Chopsticks? And beyond that—a couple of songs? Or have you truly mastered the piano? In 2 Peter 1:1-21, knowing the basics is insufficient—actual growth requires continuous effort, practice, and dedication. Don’t settle for spiritual stagnation; keep growing in your faith to experience the fullness of life in Christ. Discover the difference between dabbling and dedication.
![Respect Everyone!?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1723924279134-NGA57ALS7204GP5TMQ6U/20240818+Respect+Everyone.jpg)
Respect Everyone!?
They don’t deserve your respect until they earn it! Have you ever said that? Discover what respect truly means through the lens of 1 Peter. From Rodney Dangerfield’s classic humor to the deep challenges posed by early Christian teachings, this article explores how Christ-like respect challenges societal norms, and calls us to see the image of God in every person, even in the toughest situations.
![Scattered! 1 Peter 1:3-7](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1723340535992-FLRJSOZTKWPGTB9VWQCN/20240810+Can+You+Relate+To+The+Scattered%3F+1+Peter+1-3-7.jpg)
Scattered! 1 Peter 1:3-7
Do you really need the message of Peter in his two letters? Or is reading them just a chance to nod along, celebrating doctrines you already hold dear? All that talk about harassment, job loss, getting booted from your social circle at work or school—does that even hit close to home? Did your life and faith last month look more like those followers of Jesus who stayed comfortable in Jerusalem, never forced to flee? Or do you find yourself more in step with the scattered ones throughout Asia Minor, those who were thirsty for Peter’s words—people who knew what it meant to be ostracized, to stand on the outside of Rome’s popular culture, clinging to the hope those letters carried?
![How Do We Handle Relationship Crises?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1722634831254-GV1M7ALE0KKSO51BNO04/017+How+Do+We+Handle+Relationship+Crises.jpg)
How Do We Handle Relationship Crises?
These moments of relationship upheaval are when the church family's role becomes more crucial than ever. But how do we navigate this delicate terrain as a church? How do we avoid overwhelming people with our assistance? How do we reach out without them feeling like we are intruding in their business? How can we offer just the right amount of care and support without causing them to withdraw from the church community during their time of need?
So, how do we create a safety net that supports without smothering? Let me share what I've developed over my 25 years of pastoral ministry and the culture of care we aim to continue propagating at Newstart.
![Cleaning FEET](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1721522264345-ESC9XGEN8372LR34BC7D/20240721+Cleaning+Feet.jpg)
Cleaning FEET
Are you, like the disciples, shocked and confused by the call of Jesus to serve selflessly? Are you stuck in the mindset of “I don’t have enough time”? Is your schedule packed with things that build your own life but leave little room for serving? What can you clear out to make space for acts of kindness and opportunities to share Jesus? Are you holding on to an attitude of self-preservation, worried about giving too much? How can you step out in faith and trust that God will provide? What will it look like for you to embrace a life of selfless serving?
![Why Read About The Lord’s Prayer?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1720912836591-5ILN1ALR6E8OUIIUI8D4/20240714+Teach+Us+To+Pray.jpg)
![He Died Unnecessarily At 25](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6390c42e0f68ec6fa9bcf925/1719488217472-BX3ZXBFX71PK5KNLCG2N/202406+He+Died+Unnecessarily+at+25.jpeg)
He Died Unnecessarily At 25
We knew rescue wouldn't come before daylight, still 12 hours away. Rick and I lay in our down bags, feeling the relentless, bitterly cold wind battering our tent. We knew all too well the fate awaiting the young climber—alive and conscious like us but trapped at the bottom of a crevasse.