Starting a new job is exciting! You get a blank slate, new friends, challenges that hopefully fit your experience, among many other perks that come with the new digs. The time of year is high time for people taking new jobs so I thought of a few things that will hopefully be of some use... Continue Reading →
Abe Lincoln knew a lot about a lot of things, but something he knew exceptionally well was how to influence people. This post touches on two things that Lincoln did that put him in the hall of fame of leaders and they are simple enough that anyone who's willing to pay attention can do. The... Continue Reading →
Yesterday was a spiritually supercharged day for me. I had been praying for a crucial conversation needing to be had for a couple of weeks and it went very well. Because of all the prep that went into it, I believe I experienced a deeper communion with God as a result. I had two other... Continue Reading →
In 2010, my family and I were in north central Ohio where I was pastoring a small church. We didn't have a copy machine so I was going to Office Depot weekly to have the bulletins printed for our Sunday services. I was in the van with my daughter, who at that time was around... Continue Reading →
When I've lapped still waters into mud, and eaten green pastures to the nub, when I stumble onto the righteous path, and forget the fading of your wrath, remind me. For the sake of your great name, remind me. When my feet fall fast on the dew of valley grass, and worry by the fading... Continue Reading →
Luke 11:5, 8-9, 13 HSEB (Holman Slang Edition Bible) “..Jesus said, “Suppose you go to your homeboy when he’s out like a light and ask, ‘Dude, three loaves of bread please...’, the granting of the food-wish will not be because of your friendship but because of your shameless audacity... So, ask Abba for what you... Continue Reading →
I'm reading The Business of Heaven by CS Lewis and read an excerpt called Life on Other Planets. Below I have adapted his thoughts in modernized American English. "If there are other rational species other than life on earth, are they fallen and sinful like us? This is a point easily forgotten. Some think that... Continue Reading →
“And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:4, NIV)." “... and with free will offerings ...” Rebuilding the temple was something Israel had wanted to do... Continue Reading →
There are certain evidences of the validity of a Christian's faith but none more obvious than a heart, once was cold and self-serving, now beats warm with tenderness. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a... Continue Reading →
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people ... I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ Ezekiel 33:6 NIV The part I left out was a promise of the warned dying for their sin but I wanted to focus on the watchman. Who... Continue Reading →
“This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Rev 13:18, ESV) The “number of a man” is 6 (unholy) and the number of God is 7 (holy). While God is holy, holy, holy (777),... Continue Reading →
[...After being taken captive by Babylon until Persia came to power...] The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah (2 Chron 36:[20]-21, NIV). The land, not the people, enjoyed a holy Sabbath... Continue Reading →
Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter (Rev 10:10). Says old Spurgeon, "If we would be educated by Christ, it must not be only to receive His Word as divine authority,... Continue Reading →
