This just in from our global online tribe: The night I was saved was the most INCREDIBLE moment of my life. I have never felt anything like it but have not felt that feeling since that night. What’s wrong?    The questioner is not alone here. It is common for a new Christian’s SALVATION MOMENT—at a retreat, revival, or any high-energy and emotional event—to “evaporate” when “regular life”...

Yesterday I wrote about PANIC ROOMS that people hide in to get away from what they perceive as danger. Today I am going in the opposite direction. I want to address ESCAPE ROOMS that people try to get out of.    Most of us have heard of the ESCAPE ROOM craze that has been trotting across the globe for the past 10 or 15 years. The set-up is simple. A group of people is locked in a room. The...

This just in from our global online tribe: “I am a Christian, but I am constantly having panic attacks when trouble comes into my life. Why can’t I stop this?”    Two words slid into my consciousness when I read this question: PANIC ROOM.    Mostly associated with the 2002 thriller starring Jodie Foster hiding out in her fortified Manhattan townhouse, construction of PANIC ROOMS...

This just in from our global online tribe: “I keep praying to know God’s Will for me, but nothing ever comes. It’s frustrating and my faith is lacking because of it.”    I get it. ALL believers—including ME–would love to have a prescribed roadmap from God that lays out a prescribed pathway with purpose and peace embedded in its pavement.    For STARTERS, it would be great...

This just in from our global online tribe: The Bible tells me in the book of Romans that all things work for good, but I cannot see that in my life. I only see the challenges and trials. What am I missing?    This important question vexes most Christians. In fact, many believers NEVER fully understand that God is creating a thing of beauty with their life until they get to heaven.   ...

It hit me this weekend that millions of Christians on planet earth are, despite what God commands, trying to CONTROL their circumstances. Trying to control their pain and pleasure. Trying to control their lives.    That is IMPOSSIBLE, of course. But God DOES give us the power to control what we THINK; FEEL; SAY; and DO.    This life-long fight begins every day when we wake up and...

Today I want to skip down memory lane to when I was a teenager in Walnut Creek, California collecting American television memorabilia. My focus was on the 1960s—shows like Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, McHale’s Navy, and Bonanza. I loved it!    To my wife Cindy’s great dismay, I have been able to hold onto that collection for all these years. But it has NOT been easy! It has taken a strong...

A good portion of the world’s activity is RANKED. We rank our sports teams and schools. We rank cars and travel destinations. We rank PEOPLE’S accomplishments, appearance, and bank account.    Man is predisposed to rank almost everything and track it all on a SCOREBOARD.    Living with rankings and a scoreboard can only mean one thing: all of us will eventually LOSE in our effort...

This just in from our global online tribe: I know I’m supposed to give the challenges and questions of my life to God, but can you explain what that means beyond praying?    “GIVE IT TO GOD” (GITG) is grounded in Scripture and one of the most powerful forces in the Bible. But its power is DILUTED when we use it as this kind of hollow slogan: “Come on, just give it to God and move on.”   ...

This just in from our global online tribe: I’m not sure if I live with too much FEAR or not. But I am certain that I do NOT have God’s PEACE. What does that mean?    If you live on planet earth you know we are living in uncertain times that produce FEAR. The COVID pandemic. Political warfare. Economic turbulence. Racial tension. And more. Even Christians, maybe especially Christians, struggle...