Pancake Theologians

Sitting around a small table for breakfast on McKellips and Recker in Mesa Dan, Ted, two guys who know my name but I don’t know theirs, and I talked theology. If I am being honest, I sat and listened to their wisdom. The trained theologian soaked in the knowledge of real people, living in the real world, talking about real theology.

My initial reaction was to want to jump in and organize their thoughts, give them technical language, and guide them into proper theology. Thankfully, Shelly, our waitress, asked me if I wanted another Coke so I didn’t get the chance to jump in.  Instead of convoluting the discussion, I simply listened.

I heard Dan’s heart as he told us of recent conversations with his brother about God’s holiness. One of the gentlemen who knows my name but I don’t know his broke down the Gospel of grace against the works driven culture we find in modern America. They both spoke with such wisdom and sincerity I was overcome with humility and embarrassment.  The language may have been folk language but the truth was more profound than anything this trained theologian could write in an essay or some blog post. Needless to say, I look forward to more breakfasts in Mesa with these amazing pancake theologians.

An Open Future

Crystal and I began a journey with FUMC in Clinton four years ago. We moved back to the state we said we would never live in again and began a new ministry with a new group of people.  We were excited and knew God was leading us here. This journey is ending in the same way it started - The Holy Spirit is moving us again.

That same pull of the Holy Spirit that accompanied us to Iowa from Florida is once again pulling at our hearts.  We have sensed that God is leading us to a new ministry in a new place. Just as we faithfully answered God’s call to Iowa we are faithfully answering God’s call now. We do not know where God is leading, but he is taking us somewhere.

My time of employment in Clinton is quickly coming to an end.  Crystal and I feel that God is leading us to a larger city. We have applied for various positions in Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Phoenix, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and the like. While no jobs have been offered yet, we know God will bring us to the right one. 

We are not leaving the church angry or bitter. We are not leaving over money (some jobs we applied to would actually result in a pay cut). We are leaving because God is leading.

The plan moving forward is for Crystal and I to pick an end date for our time in Iowa. We are thinking this will probably be toward the end of November or December. If I do not have a new job at this time, we will leave so the church can move on with the next youth pastor and the youth ministry can continue to thrive.  Crystal and I will be ok in this situation. We will move to her parent’s home in Florida and work until something comes our way. If a job comes along before this time, we will move accordingly. It is simply in God’s hands.

The reason this is not being announced during a worship service is because of Pastor Bobb’s surgery and absence from the church in the coming weeks. We felt it was unfair to the guest speakers we are bringing in to have to speak after such an announcement is made. Therefore, we have found it fit to first inform the congregation via The Mirror newsletter. As more details emerge a formal announcement will be made to the church on a Sunday morning.

Feel free to ask me any questions via this blog, my facebook page, or even stop by house or office for a chat.

In Christ,

Jeremy Penn

Transforming Rahabs

The texts for this sermon were selections from Joshua 2 & 6.  This is one of the better sermons I have preached.  Definitely worth a listen. I conclude with a visual involveing 4 chairs so use your imagination if you must!

Transforming Rahabs: Joshua 2 & 6 by Jeremy Penn

Restoring the Fallen

Here is a recent sermon I preached. The text was Galatians 6:1-5.  It is not the best sermon in the world but it is decent. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Restoring the Fallen: Galatians 6:1-5 by Jeremy Penn

Traveling Tensions

Traveling Music
Places I lived by the age of 24: Monroe, WA; Wichita, KS; Marion, IN; University Park, IA; Circleville, OH; University Park, IA (again); La Habra, CA; Whittier, CA; Casselberry, FL; Clinton, IA



I get the itch to move every 3-4 years. Just read the list above and you will start to figure out why. I can’t really help it.  I promise it is not my fault. If we need to place blame on someone, we should place blame on my parents. They moved from ministry-to-ministry, college-to-college as God led them. I am not bitter about it; really I am not! I experienced more places and cultures in my first 10 years of life than most people do in a lifetime. I am actually thankful that I moved a lot.

I have been in Clinton for almost 4 years now. I came to serve a church in a denomination that I was warned not to serve in. My friends and mentors warned me that this particular denomination was running towards liberalism and they were right. For some reason though, I felt God pushing me to this church; to these kids. So in spite of the better judgment of those I trusted, I packed up a Uhaul and moved to Clinton, IA.


I have had the great pleasure of serving these kids and I have seen a freshman class through graduation. I have taught the Bible through a simple conservative evangelical lense and the kids have eaten it up. I have witnessed lives transformed, grace revealed, glory given to God, and sanctification embraced. I love these kids and I love working with them. They are part of my legacy.


… but that itch is back - the itch to travel, to pack my bags and hit the road, the urge to start fresh on a new adventure.


I sat at a table in VillageInn eating my free pie, like I have every Wednesday night for the past year, and sitting to my left was a former student back for the summer and to my right was a group of sophomores and juniors – the future of the group. It was a surreal moment. It seemed as if I was saying goodbye, as if I knew it was one of the last times this would happen. The past to my left and the future to my right; a season has passed. The tension to stay and establish roots is losing its battle with the traveling tensions I am feeling.


I don’t know where God is leading me but he is taking me somewhere. I don’t know when he is taking me and my family on this new adventure but I know it is around the corner. Who knows? Maybe this time will be the time I establish roots and stick around for years or even decades. Where he leads I will follow… and it will be painful, and uncomfortable, and punishingly hard to say goodbye when the time comes around.

That's a Big Boat

A sermon on Genesis 6:9-22.  There is an introduction to our radio audience from our Sr. Pastor and then the Scripture is read before the sermon starts at about 2:30.  This sermon was preached on graduation Sunday so some of it is directed at our high school grads.

That's a Big Boat by Jeremy Penn

Crafty Serpents are Best Avoided

This a sermon I preached form a few weeks ago.  The text is Genesis 3:1-8.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Crafty Serpents are Best Avoided by Jeremy Penn