Our phones are definitely getting smarter, but our knowledge of God’s Word has become more like a “Dumb Phone.” We have become biblically illiterate Christians because many of us have marginalized Scripture in favor of singing contemporary songs, attending fellowship barbeques, and taking superficial topical study classes. We are experiencing a famine—a famine […]
Instead of panic when fear and worry intrude into our lives, we should pray. That may sound simplistic, but why should it? After all, God’s truth and promises haven’t changed just because a war threat is mounting on one of life’s borders. The issue isn’t whether or not the storms will chase us—they will—but whether
A Quiet and Balanced Life, Really? Read More »
An integral part of the faith process is being strong against adversity! Faith is moving against your fears and worries. God says, “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” (Proverbs 24:10). When we don’t turn our doubts over to God, we will fan those embers and they will
“Even If” and “Even Though” Read More »
Trying to protect ourselves from everything that might happen in life is trying to play God. It’s wrong and it lands us at a fork in the road with one way leading to fear and the other to trust in God our Protector. Choosing to go toward God at the fork does not obviate
Are you at a Fork in the Road? Read More »
Even in the pain and depression phase I suffered through earlier in my life, I could sense God urging me to “jump” toward him. That is a tough move to make when one is in pain and stress, the sort of pain and stress I was experiencing at the time. Jumping toward God was the
MIGHT AS WELL JUMP Read More »
God wants us to wait for his refining work and look for his perspective even while we are in the vortex of affliction. He wants us to trust the divine timing and not get discouraged while we’re in the waiting period. The best approach to stop discouragement early is to pray. But as clear and
God’s Word is full of seemingly unending promises on the subject of worry, fear, and discouragement. It seems hard to believe that Christians could take these words to heart and still adopt the worry mode when encountering periods of distress. But that is the norm, not the exception. We allow our anxieties to
As we celebrate our nation’s birthday, I want to draw attention to America’s Twin-Tower Values of Hard Work and Achievement There is nothing wrong with hard work. Ralph Waldo Emerson was right that “without ambition one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to
It’s 100% American, Right? Read More »
Let me dive a little deeper by switching metaphors… We put ourselves at risk when we travel through life without paying attention to those important warning lights flashing their plea for attention on the dashboard. Our car may keep running, but eventually it will break down, and we will not know when it will
The trap is set when a church pulls the trigger too quickly on a new program or action plan. The leaders calling the shots jump before considering even the most basic questions about 1) the move’s merits; and 2) how the action fits into the church’s vision for the future. Focusing on tactics without having
The Church’s Cotton Candy “Sugar Hit” Read More »
