I have often wondered what it would be like to live at the equator. Not the earth’s equator which divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres–“God’s Equator.”    This interest in the equator spilled into my quiet time early each morning as a new day dawned on a mission trip to Brazil working with Carlito and Leila Paes’ great church. And it continued on the long trip...

It’s a question for the ages, right? But for Christ followers, it is much more than an existential exploration. It is the heart and soul of our walk. It’s our foundation. And it’s our North Star.    We know our identity is in Christ, but the question is the depth of that belief and how we live it out.    I address that question by trying to reduce the gap between what I know to...

Much of our doubt and worry in life comes from fearing the unknown and no one cares much for that kind of uncertainty. So it makes sense that we would want to have everything known in advance.    We hate not knowing! The goal of having everything figured out is cemented into our psyche and our culture’s weltanschauung or worldview. Everyone wants their life laid out from A to Z in a predictable...

Earlier in my walk with God I lacked spiritual muscles and discipline. And I lacked wisdom. I lacked understanding. To fill the void of truth, my only default was to play the Be Nice Game. Let me explain…    Playing the Be Nice Game was a trap for me who wanted to do the right thing, but didn’t know what that looked like. I wanted to be treated well and figured that would happen if I treated...

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes on the planet. Every day, thousands of people become members of this dubious fraternity.    That’s an alarming trend, of course. But there’s another form of identity theft that is also exploding in our midst. A form with far more ominous and destructive consequences. A form with life and death ramifications. It’s the theft of our identity...

Have you ever said that about your effort to spend time with God on a daily basis?    Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to be spiritually consistent?    Have you ever thought being consistent with your connection to God would never happen?    If you have, in one sense, that’s a good thing. Really! It’s a good thing because it demonstrates that you are in touch...

No matter how much pain you are in right now, God is with you and wants to transform your life. How do I know that? From first-hand experience coming out of my own walk with Christ.    This story is just one example from earlier in my life when I was a Corporate CEO. I was fighting a two-year battle with listlessness and fatigue. I was deeply depressed, agitated, stressed, constantly weary,...

No, not literally. My question is really about making our faith journey an exploration. Here’s the story.    This idea came to me while I was building our house and watching a huge earthmover eat through ruts, trees, and concrete as it rumbled across the property. Before the operator started, I asked him how he knew where to begin and what to do with so many unknowns in his path. He told...

The lion kingdom is ruled by the monarchy system. There is a single ruler of every pride. As that ruler ages, the other dominant lions make their bid for his throne. In the first part of the ruler’s final life stage, he is able to ward off the threats—even though his teeth might be falling out. Finally, at some point, the king lion cannot sustain his power, and he yields to a new leader.    Is...

God could never forgive my past. I didn’t go to seminary and I’m no theologian. Deep down I’m just no good…God can’t use Have you ever had thoughts like those?    I certainly have, and they produced a painful cycle of despair where I felt inadequate in God’s eyes. I felt guilty, too, because I hadn’t prayed. I hadn’t read the Bible. I hadn’t “been good.” Those crazy thoughts led me to...