Crystal Creek Glass Columbaria

02/18/2026

What would actually happen if property taxes were eliminated?

It’s one of the questions explored in this episode with Thad Lichtensteiger, part of a broader conversation about local budgets, tradeoffs, and what it takes to steward a small town well.

Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of The Creative Niche Podcast, we sit down with Thad Lichtensteiger for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to lead at the ...

02/11/2026

Cremation has changed the landscape, but it hasn’t changed the responsibility cemeteries carry.

As leaders look ahead, investment decisions matter more than ever. The question is no longer just how space is used, but how it performs over time.

In our latest blog, we explore why columbaria are increasingly being viewed not simply as memorial options, but as long-term cemetery investments. When thoughtfully integrated into memorial gardens, they support predictable planning, concentrated maintenance, and lasting permanence for families.

Planning for permanence requires clarity. We hope this piece adds to that conversation.

Read the full article here:

Columbaria as cemetery investments offer predictable revenue, adaptable growth, and long-term stability in today’s cremation landscape.

02/03/2026

One of the biggest shifts cemeteries are navigating right now has very little to do with cremation itself.

It has to do with the permanence of planning decisions.

Even when solutions are space-efficient, once land is developed, pathways are set, and structures are placed, flexibility narrows quickly. These decisions shape how families experience the grounds for decades.

That reality is increasingly part of planning conversations across the profession.
The focus is moving upstream. Away from short-term fixes and toward decisions grounded in long-term stewardship. Not choices driven by urgency, but ones shaped by intention and care.

At Crystal Creek Glass our role in this moment is defined by what we build. Permanent memorial elements that must endure, perform, and remain meaningful over time. We come alongside cemeteries with the understanding that what's created today will shape connection for generations.

In a landscape that continues to evolve, confidence doesn't come from predicting the future perfectly. It comes from making decisions rooted in purpose and built to last.

01/26/2026

Why do Christians feel the need to speak about faith, even when it’s misunderstood or uncomfortable? In this clip, Jason explains why believers are called to scatter seeds, not force growth. No amount of knowledge or preaching can change a heart unless the Holy Spirit brings conviction.

Watch the full conversation on the Creative Niche Podcast featuring Tom Emerine for deeper insight into faith, calling, and obedience.

01/23/2026

Cremation is no longer a future trend. It’s the present reality shaping cemetery planning decisions today.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025 and climb to 82.3% by 2045. https://lnkd.in/gtgRBcw6

That shift carries real implications for cemetery leaders.

Cremation changes how families choose disposition, but it does not remove the need for permanence, place, or meaningful remembrance. In fact, as cremation becomes the majority choice, the role of thoughtfully designed memorial spaces becomes even more important.

Forward-looking cemeteries are asking a different question now. Not how to resist the trend, but how to plan environments that honor families, steward land responsibly, and remain relevant for generations to come.

This is where intentional columbaria design matters most.

At Crystal Creek Glass, we believe planning for cremation is not about reacting. It’s about creating spaces that continue to invite connection long after a service ends.

The future is arriving faster than many expect. Thoughtful planning today makes all the difference tomorrow.

01/22/2026

God wires each of us with unique desires, dreams, and a calling. Even when we fail or go the wrong direction, He knows how to bring us back to the center of His will.

This powerful moment comes from our full podcast with Tom Emerine, where we talk about faith, perseverance, and trusting God through real life, ministry, and business.

🎙️ Watch the full podcast with Tom Emerine here:
👉 https://youtu.be/KQTAPeThNUU?si=8oL6tDbagKACTdk5

01/21/2026

This episode centers on worship, obedience, and faith lived under pressure.

Tom Emerine shares what he’s witnessing through relationships formed over years of work as an artist, including believers in places like Iran, where following Jesus can cost family, freedom, and safety, and where revival is still quietly taking place.

If you’re open to sitting with the tension between comfortable faith and costly faith, this conversation is worth your time.

In this episode of The Creative Niche Podcast, we sit down with worship leader and artist Tom Emerine for a conversation centered on worship, revival, and fa...

01/15/2026

01/14/2026

Cremation has changed how families say goodbye. It hasn’t changed their need for a place to return.

In our latest article, we explore what makes a cemetery meaningful to families in a changing landscape, and why place, permanence, and thoughtful stewardship matter now more than ever.

Read the full piece on our blog.

Cremation has reshaped how families engage with memorialization. This essay explores what makes a cemetery meaningful to families in a changing landscape.

01/13/2026

So many people chase a goal thinking happiness is waiting at the finish line. Then they get there and realize they missed everything along the way. This moment is a reminder to slow down and be present.

🎧 Watch the full conversation on the Creative Niche Podcast with JoshBuehrer:
https://youtu.be/g6n6dlO7GyI?si=z-UVV3S_duJ9ppCk

01/07/2026

Behind the work is a family story.
This episode is a laid-back conversation about faith, family, and what it’s like working side by side.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on The Creative Niche Podcast.
Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

In this family feature episode of The Creative Niche Podcast, Jason sits down with his brother Josh for an honest conversation about what it’s really like wo...

12/22/2025

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a hopeful New Year.

Crystal Creek Glass will be closed December 23 through January 4 and will reopen January 5.

Warm holiday wishes from our family to yours. ✨🎄