Stewardship of the talents and gifts God gives us can be gauged by how much of our time is spent on the day-to-day bustle of life, and how much is spent on spiritual growth and service.    “Make the most of your chances to tell unbelievers the Good News.  Be wise in all your contacts with them.”   Colossians 4:5    OK, great…what can I do to check how I’m spending...

We all try SO HARD in life when God says TRY EASY and trust him.    Many of us occasionally view the notion of keeping our life in balance as a low priority. I know I am susceptible to that wayward thinking when things get busy and I shift into the “try harder” gear.    CAUTION!    We’re playing with fire when we convince ourselves to just try harder when times are tough,...

What?! Glorious uncertainty? C’mon, you are kidding, right?    Nope. No kidding. It’s definitely possible and I want to share with you how God brought me to its peaceful state.    Our culture has taught us that fear and worry, just like stress, are part of the package we get in life. We are told to endure the constant pressure of life’s uncertainty and to keep trying hard so we...

I’ve caught over 20 Marlin in my life.  Some big.  Some small.  One 610 pounds off the rugged Kona Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island.  Memories of peering into the deep cobalt come rushing back to me often, usually when I’m having trouble being EXPECTANT.    You see, I was ALWAYS expecting to catch a marlin when my dad and I went out on the hunt.    When I’m having...

That’s me in the middle of my career as a corporate CEO chasing success.  A horrible picture to be sure. But it’s a perfect picture, too, because it is EXACTLY how I felt.  How I was.  How I was destined to be.    Thankfully, the story took a turn in a different direction. Let me tell you the story.    I roared out of college and attacked my business career with...

It’s all about margin.    You are no doubt thinking that what’s coming next from a “full-speed-ahead CEO” like me is that margin is all about striving for a life balance and taking time to smell the roses…right?    Wrong.    For me, creating the margin necessary to live a committed life following Jesus is a matter of generating “breathing room” for an intimate relationship...

Why do so many believers lack the confidence needed to activate their faith, utilize their gifts, and live out their purpose for Christ and his Kingdom? Indeed, why are we afraid of our own shadow?    The parable of the wise and the foolish builders illustrates how important it is to build one’s life on Jesus and activate our faith. There are two kinds of people whose hearts reveal...

“I failed, again.”    You’ve heard that line whispered in your ear, right? It comes from Satan, aka the “Voice Villain.”    We know that despite our best-laid plans, setbacks are inevitable. But they still produce angst, extreme doubt about our self-worth, and muddle our relationships in life. Yep, fear of failure is not easy to accept, especially when God tells us NOT TO FEAR...

The spiritual fruits embody everything good in life, and they form a composite view of Christ himself. We can produce these fruits only when we trust God and put Christ first in our lives. The fruits of the Spirit join each other to create God’s magnificent mosaic of love and strength.    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness...

  An important question to ask when seeking God’s peace in Christ is to consider whether or not we have “done anything with our salvation.” Yes, we have come to faith in Christ, and we have invited him into our lives. This assures us we have escaped hell and have secured eternity in heaven for our souls. But have we lived a life that imitates Christ and uses the gifts and blessings the Holy Spirit...