The motivation behind my faith walk was all wrong until I ditched the “perfection chase” and embraced this powerful claim by the Apostle Paul:  “I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself.” Philippians 3:12 GNT    Paul is making it crystal clear that his life is a...

It is not wrong to want people to like us, right? Of course not. But it is wrong when we care too much about what people think of us. This is a very common trap for Christians, but God says fearing man by seeking approval and avoiding rejection is WRONG.    “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.” Proverbs 29:25 GNT    Defining...

One thing has become crystal clear from the time I have spent hanging out with farmers –they are experts at waiting. Heck, in most case it takes several years before a newly-planted crop produces its first bounty. Farmers have learned how to wait patiently–which is not an occasional thing, it’s an everyday thing. And when a crippling act of nature sidelines their harvest for a few years, waiting...

Early in my faith walk I struggled to figure out God’s “Faith-And-Works” Connection. Struggled to find clarity and balance. Struggled to reconcile being saved for Eternity and whether or not that meant I needed to serve others.    Then God cleared it up by teaching me that faith and works cannot be separated. That once we make a commitment to grow in Christ after being saved by faith, good...

Not only does God call us to stop talking long enough to listen and accept his Word in our heart, he wants us to put it into action. Merely nodding our heads at God’s Word is not enough—we need to do what it tells us to do. We need to figure out which way God wants us to go, and then actually go that way.    “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it...

Early in my faith walk I had no time to even think about others let alone speak up for them. I was too busy thinking about myself and sticking up for me in the dog-eat-dog race to succeed, acquire, and seek pleasure. Thinking about standing up for the poor and oppressed wasn’t even a possibility because it never flashed across my radar screen. How could I stand up for someone else when I only thought...

That sounds crazy, right? Of course it does. But that is exactly what tormented my mind as a young Christian.    And then God radically transformed my thinking–and my life–with this wisdom from Solomon:    “You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.” Proverbs 28:13 GNT    There...

God wants us to be thankful for our enemies? C’mon, man. Really? Yes, it’s true. After all, if nobody ever wronged us, the opportunity to reflect God’s character and grace would pass right by us.    In this way, our enemy’s hurtful actions are a blessing because they move us closer to Jesus.    Being thankful for those who wrong us begins with one of God’s foundational truths ....

There are two rules that create a significant fork in the road our faith journey takes in life. We either move toward the light or descend into the dark: #1: The “Golden Rule” says: Treat others as you want to be treated.    #2: The evil one has his own rule that’s no so golden: Treat others as they have treated you.    God’s fork is crystal clear:    “Don’t say...

   The headline above–“Fear God? I Thought I Was Supposed To Love God”–is a verbatim thought that circulated through my mind just after accepting Christ as a 22-year old college student.     The notion of “fearing God” has always been, and still is now, one of the most misunderstood parts of walking with Christ.    But here’s the bottom line...