It is possible that your lingering pessimism, your simmering outrage, and your soured outlook live at the top of your heart and in the front of your mind because this is what you feed on all day. News, podcasts, and social media with content about more terrible things done by terrible people have an impact on your soul. Little room exists fo ...
The Lord Is With You
Our church spent several weeks studying the life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The Bible explicitly tells us that in two of the most difficult episodes of Joseph’s story, the Lord was with him. His brothers betrayed him. He had been sold twice. Now, he belonged to and worked for Potiphar in Egypt. But the Lord was with him. “The Lord was ...
Four Encouragements Your Spouse Needs to Hear
I LOVE YOU. Fully. Just as you are. For free. I am all in. I’m committed for as long as God gives us life. I DESIRE YOU. Just as you are. You still make my heart beat fast. I’m glad you are my person. Making time for us to be close is more than physical - it’s when I feel emotionally connected to you. I AM PRAYING FOR YOU. Asking God for ...
Abiding
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4) ESV Abiding is our daily effort to pursue, to enjoy, and to rest in Jesus Christ. To understand abiding (or as the NIV translates, to remain), let’s think about the differe ...
God Is So Good To Us
The prophet Hosea delivered messages of truth and love—speaking verbatim the words of the Lord. In this chapter, we find God musing over his relationship with wayward Israel. Hosea 11:1-11 ““When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed ...
Pastoral Thoughts Following the Assassination Attempt On Former President Trump
On Saturday morning, I toured the home of Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President. The National Park Service preserves his three-story house in Oyster Bay, New York. It served as a family retreat, summer White House, and venue for global negotiations. The walls are lined with art, hunting trophies, numerous bookcases, and charming reminders of a li ...
First Aid
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed ...
Pride, Leftovers, and an Eighteenth-Century Brit
To know me is to encounter my love of history. I enjoy articles on discoveries in archaeology. I am captivated by first-hand accounts of life way back when. I am a sucker for any YouTube video about battles and battlefields. My Audible app usually has a few biographies loaded—a cadre of long-gone mentors, speaking across time to share wisdom and t ...
Scripture, Imagination, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday
Reading the Scripture: “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jes ...
Taking Digital Sermon Notes Is A Great Idea
I love the feel and smell and of a leather journal. They are perfect for capturing personal prayers and reflections. They are also good for taking notes on Sundays. As much as I love the pen and paper experience, in this post I want to recommend that taking digital sermon notes is a great idea. Here are eight reasons why you should head to church t ...