There is a difference in claiming belief in the cross of Jesus and following Jesus. If you follow Him, he will inevitably bring you back to another cross. It is not the cross but it is indeed a cross. This cross is a rite of passage for the Christian and also a marking on the... Continue Reading →
Part of my morning ritual is coffee. I make one for myself and my wife. She’s an iced oat milk maple coriander latte and I’m an americano.
This post is an excerpt from A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing. I believe it to be some of the highest thoughts in all devotional writing. --- As he watched him grow from babyhood to young manhood the heart of the old man was knit closer and closer with the... Continue Reading →
Adapted from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest The Holy Spirit applies the Atonement (holy spiritual cleansing by the blood of Jesus) to us consciously and unconsciously, and it is only when we get a grasp of the unrivalled power of the Spirit in us that we understand the meaning of 1 John 1:7.... 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 →
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 →
My wife and kids and I were visiting her parents in Grand Junction Colorado a couple years ago and took a short drive together to a place called Rifle Falls during our visit. The view of the mountains was breathtaking and I couldn't stop commenting on it the entire way. I had asked her dad... Continue Reading →
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 →
Among the things floating around in the top drawer of my dresser, various bins in the basement storage, on a top shelf on my bookcase or in the glove compartment, there are a few items I treasure more than most. The list of things I treasure has changed through the years. When I was 5... Continue Reading →
Either you missed the casting call or didn't make the cut. You saw yourself on the stage dropping diamonds and picking up roses but somehow you're not on it. You are, however, subjected to listen to someone else read the same lines you rehearsed and delivered with conviction. What do you do when your life... Continue Reading →
I've never been a big U2 fan, but I admit that they are likely the greatest rock band of my generation. Whether you're a fan or not you can't deny the impact they have had on music and culture. Bono is more than just a front man to many. His message has authority from his... Continue Reading →
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” - Ephesians 5:18 Many well meaning Christians ask God for a filling of the Spirit when what they really want is a feeling of the Spirit. There are many different reasons people desire a filling: evidence of God... 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 →
I got this message today from a friend of my sons. He's 14 and his life was changed by Jesus this summer at church camp. What 14 year old does that?! I'm at the gym fighting back tears writing this post. This is a natural outcome when someone really meets Jesus. I met Jesus at... 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 →
Your inbox probably can't handle many more emails so how about one more to test the strength of your server? This whole COVID-19 season has shown us many things about our selves, our security, our elected officials, our churches, and the globe just to name a few. You may not be responsible for many others... Continue Reading →
“Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead. Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.” Psalms 31:17-18, NIV Our “wicked” today... Continue Reading →
I’m fortunate to still have some special people in my life that really LOVE me (along with my sibs and cousins), with unblinking honest tender love... my grandparents (the three remaining). If you still have any of your grandparents, call or go see them today. If you don’t, take some time to reflect on their... Continue Reading →
Samson, mostly known for his hair (which was more than just a physical attribute of personal glory), was one of the Israelite Judges from the tribe of Dan. He was set apart before birth by God Himself for some special service. He’d taken a sacred Nazarite vow (same as John the Baptist) which restricted him... Continue Reading →
Judges 13:22, “We’re certainly going to die . . . because we have seen God!” Do we always know what we're asking when we pray? We beg God for showers of blessing but we ask without knowing that black clouds must gather in to bring them. Thank God for this ignorance because we might hesitate... Continue Reading →
... this DOWNtime came at the RIGHT time, at least for people in my neck of the woods, that is, if it goes away just in time for spring. ... the day when finally being myself will actually feel better than what I've imagined. ... something I lost long ago will return on it's wings.
“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6 My heart gives me bad counsel when I’m in the flesh and I’m careworn from waking up in a funk these last few... Continue Reading →
“And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord —the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap... The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the... Continue Reading →
