When I was a young, the older kids down the street would make us choose a side… they would demand “You a surfer or a soul brother?” I had no idea what they were saying. After all I was probably eight years old. I think they meant...
I didn’t have the advantage of growing up in church so I didn’t really know about Jesus and the Bible. I was largely ignorant of the gospel. But, I was never hostile toward religion, in fact I was quite curious. There are some today who...
One time my wife was handing off our newborn son to her mom to hold. In the transfer, my wife began to explain to her mom ‘how to hold an infant’… as if some new technique had emerged since her mom held her. It was a bit of irony...
I became a Christian at age 18 just after high school. And I am pretty sure the believers who had the advantage of growing up in the faith were slightly embarrassed I called myself a Christian. I bet some were ready to “give up on me”...
I have to confess I don’t always read instructions or follow them. Sometimes I try to put something together without reading the manufacturer’s instruction book. Thank God for YouTube “How To” videos, they have saved me many...
I’ve seen miracles. Have you? When Jesus began His public ministry He did what nobody else ever had… He touched a dead girl’s hand and brought her back to life, cast out demons that prevented a man from speaking and he spoke again...
There is a phrase in Spanish that depicts a particular friendship that is built on trust and loyalty. “Mi amigo fiel” (my faithful friend)! I love that phrase because faithful friendships are rare and precious. Do you have them? I am...
My wife has often reminded our kids that in life you be in one of three places, coming out of a storm, exiting a storm or in the midst of a storm. Life has trials by God’s design. Jesus led his newbie followers into a storm that scared them to...
I have been fortunate in this life to have not suffered greatly with disease or injury or incapacity. I pray often for others who do. While, I am not without imperfection, weaknesses, and afflictions, I have a supernatural source of strength...
I work part-time in the legal field. A professor of mine said “what is the law, but a bunch of rules”. I sighed. He was right at one level, but the intention of the law is far more noble. How terrible it would be if our spiritual life...
I take about 2 minutes to figure out what I am going to wear each day. Even less time to decide if I will eat breakfast or not. Some people say “it shows”! lol. My wife is fashionable (fashionably late… just kidding). I personally...
I have done some things in secret that I would not want others to know. How about you? Ironically, God knows everything I do in secret. In His multitude of grace, He still loves me. This inner desire in me to be liked or recognized by other people...
I know there exists an enemy of my soul. Jesus said so. I don’t think there is a demon under every rock. Most of my spiritual problems arise from my own flesh and desires. Temptations come in many forms, don’t they. Ever ponder at the...
Yesterday I was stunned to hear about the murder of a young 31 year old firebrand advocate for free speech, debate, and most importantly the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk started visiting college campuses back in 2012. He was “in the...
There is quite a bit of mystery in our lives, isn’t there. If you knew everything that was going to happen in your life, would it be better or worse? God, at certain times foretold what would happen to His people and the coming Messiah. The...
I began to read Matthew’s gospel account of Jesus (the Messiah). Ever wonder why he begins with a detailed account of Jesus genealogy? Matthew gives Jesus’ genealogy to prove that He is the rightful Messiah, the heir of David’s throne, the...
Have you ever escaped the punishment for something you did that was wrong? I sure have. More often than I’d like to admit. God, in His grace has certainly disciplined me out of His great love. But, I am amazed at the extension of His grace to...
This morning I am thinking about two icons of Christian ministry- pastor John MacArthur and James Dobson. They both left this earthly dwelling for heaven in recent weeks. Both revered the Lord, shared the gospel and love of God, yet warned people of...
There are very few times that I had seen my parents in utter frustration. I mean, so mad at my brothers or me- that they couldn’t even speak. One time, my dad caught me swearing on the walkie talkie radios. He looked at me and (out of...
I wake up happy. (Most days- lol). I walk out into the backyard with coffee cup in hand and water my garden, pray a bit, and prepare to read the Bible and pray a bit more. That’s nice for me. There is a new day coming according to the Bible...
I believe in God. I don’t mean just intellectually (I think the case for God is far stronger than the case for a world without God). But, when I say I believe in God, I mean I have faith in God. I TRUST HIM. I don’t always understand Him...
I have been thinking about the wonderful ministry of pastor John MacArthur who recently passed from this earth into heaven and the life to come. For nearly five decades he preached the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. He shepherded the flock...
Sometimes what I say and do may appear to others as a contradiction. I may speak of justice along with mercy. I may be found ministering to a grieving family on the same day I officiate a joyful wedding ceremony. One expression of love may be my...
I love reading the Bible. I try to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus who is my model and guide in life. I fail. But, I continue to allow God to shape my thinking and my heart and develop Christlike character qualities. The Bible chronicles the...
My wife got invited to one of those places that put you in a dark room, salt water, and you relax by floating. I’ve never done it. But, “I float on the prayers of God’s people”. That’s my poetic way of saying that I am...
There is a beautiful song that is sung in our churches today that has the lyrics “all my life You have been faithful; all my life you have been so, so good”. Now that I have been a Christian for 40+ years, I sing that song through tears...
Some people grew up going to a church with a priest. The priest was in some ways a person closer to God and an ‘intermediator’ for them. For me, I was taught to come directly to the throne of grace in prayer and that seems to be working...
I feel very fortunate to have really wonderful people in my life (my wife, children, grand-cuties, and friends). They make my life fun, filled with purpose, and love. Relationship are built on trust. We were made by God to be connected to others...
I haven’t been everywhere and done everything I want to in this life. I haven’t “arrived” with Christlike character reflected perfectly either. But, when I survey the blessings in my life, I marvel at God’s faithfulness...
Sometimes life can change dramatically in a single day! The day I was married, had my first child, and the day I was fired from my job, all changed a great deal. You can’t always see the full implication of that day for years. That’s OK...
We have a lot of “sayings” or colloquialisms today that originate in the Bible. I was reading today about the time God was restoring the descendants of Abraham (Jews) to Jerusalem and Judea from their dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar. The...
I have been reading the words of Judean prophets from the 6th century BCE. There is a common theme- restoration! The prophets are inviting and commanding God’s people to return to Him and rebuild the temple of worship. What a great theme for...
How does God reveal Himself in the world? Through His people primarily. As believers, you and I are his witnesses in the world. We are the letters of the Bible read by all men. At times we may be an embarrassment and other times a shining example of...
Worship and fellowship are a priority in my life. If I demonstrate any leadership at all, I pray its spiritual leadership wherein I pursue and model a priority in these areas. At the moment, I thank God that my grown kids and their children have a...
Have you ever disciplined your child, maybe put them on a time out in their room after scolding them? Of course, every good parent and grandparent does. But then what? You slip into their room to comfort them and remind them who they are within the...
I cannot count all the times that God, in His mercy, God has spared me from my own mistakes and even the severity of His discipline that I deserve. I try my best, when I become aware of my stumbling and shortcomings, to try to seek God and not run...
I like to make my way through each day without too much drama. I don’t have high, highs and then low, lows. I laugh a bit. And in certain situations, I might cry. I am not overly expressive (I am after all of German descent). I am not stoic...
God can be trusted “Even if”, He allows or causes difficult and suffering to come my way. That’s a really lofty thought, isn’t it. Almost sounds like blind loyalty to a God I cannot see. “Even if”? Am I really...
In any one day, I look around, read the news, or talk with people and see unrighteousness all around. I wonder, “where can righteousness be found these days?” Well, I find plenty of righteousness because I live in a bubble of...
I am still discovering more and more about God’s will and His ways (even after 45 years as a Christian). As life unfolds day after day I am reminded that His thoughts are not my thoughts and the wisdom of God exceeds mine… “as high...
I have never seen a king or queen in person. I’ve visited ancient thrones, castles, and the like. I can imagine the majesty of royalty with all its wealth, beauty, aloof from everyone else. I prefer humility but can appreciate the difference...
I have met many people who reject God because they think He is a cosmic “killjoy”! They say things like “all God wants is to ruin my fun and make me follow rules”. Its not really like that at all! God desires obedience in the...
I have devoted great energy, time, and thought to different endeavors over the course of my life. I have served myself, companies and enterprises and even other people. When I was a late teen and twenty something… I made the commitment to...
I don’t like to go to parties unless I am invited. Otherwise, I feel like I will be ‘called out’ and forced to leave. Awkward!!! Jesus revealed what God is like by telling stories, using analogies and parables. Some people...
It’s not good people who go to heaven or enter the kingdom of God, its forgiven people. This is really great news because none of us are actually good. But all of us can be forgiven! Jesus warned the religious leaders about the show they put...
The kingdom of God is not in which we compare ourselves to one another and establish some ‘pecking order’ or hierarchy the way people in the world tend to lord their position over one another. Jesus said if you want to be great in...
I’ve seen some recent TV commercials about Jesus (one on the Super Bowl last year) with the caption at the end “He Gets Us” In moments of great strife, trial and temptation- I’ve wondered, ‘does God know what I am going...
My son and daughter in law dropped the grandkids off last Saturday, so they could go to breakfast and set goals for the new year together. When a brand new year starts we often make an assessment of our lives. We look back and evaluate the prior...
Have you ever felt discounted, dismissed or passed over? There is a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Sometimes the people closest to us cannot perceive the work God is doing in our life. That was true with Jesus. Even His own...
Lara Croft is a fascinating fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game and movie franchise Tomb Raider. She is a highly intelligent and athletic British archaeologist who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around the...