One of the very formative pastors in my life said: “I am a grace dispenser- if you get in front of me, you’re going to get loved!” How is the grace of God at work in the lives of believers? God offers us grace, we respond in faith...
When I first became a Christian I was a bit of a witnessing fool. In my excitement about being saved and entering this new relationship with God, I told just about everybody. Not everyone was happy for me, or was interested. For me is was Good News...
One of the most exciting aspects of becoming a Christian is that our lives continue to change. We are not static. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be with us and in us. He (The Holy Spirit) leads and guides and is not content with the...
I love to open the mailbox and get letters from friends (especially handwritten ones). I remember in junior high school, I would get love letters sealed with strawberry lip gloss. In a very real sense, every Christian walking around is a living...
I enjoy the actor Will Smith quite a bit. One of his signature lines from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is “Yo Holmes, Smell ya Later”. That always makes me laugh. As Christians we will make an impression upon everyone we meet. The apostle...
Probably the hardest relationship moments come when we have to correct one another or forgive one another. True friends will address the sin and shortcomings in our lives and help us repent and become more Christlike. Its true, the opposite of love...
My conscience bothers me when I do something wrong, hurt another person, or keep a sin secret. Does yours? God gave us a mechanism (that’s the best way I can describe the conscience) that informs our mind and emotions about what is right and...
I have a confession to make. I don’t sleep under the sheets. Just the comforter. All I need is my comforter (the big blanket on top). I don’t like my feet ‘trapped’ inside a sheet tucked in at the bottom of a bed. But this...
“Do it to them, before they do it to you”! That was the final instructions given by Sergeant Stan Jablonski on the TV show Hill Street Blues to his police force after their daily briefing. When Sgt. Phil Esterhaus does the cop roll call...
I am recently involved with many families grieving the death of loved ones. It is so difficult for each to reconcile the earthly loss of companionship, affection and love that will accompany them until they are reunited in heaven with loved ones in...
I remember receiving the news that my wife and I were going to have our first child- ‘best news ever’! I remember the news that we were having a second baby- ‘second best news ever’! I remember finding out my vasectomy...
There is a phenomena that has accompanied the Christian experience that is a little weird to outsiders or unbelievers. We don’t talk about it much because its generally an ‘in house’ conversation. Something amazing happened on the...
Eloquent and clear communication, forecasting what the future holds, being assured about what God will do, giving generously and sacrificially are all beautiful, necessary, and powerful human virtues. I know people whom I would call ‘super...
I know quite a bit more about God than when I first was introduced to Christianity back in 1980. Moreover, I know Him. Of course, I don’t know everything about Him! Who does? I do have access through prayer to Him. He gives me thoughts beyond...
I was born with some natural abilities. (Stunning good looks- jk) I have learned a few things and developed some talents along the way. Now, as much as I love to play basketball or surf, I’m not going to be a professional, that’s pretty...
I am part of a church that serves communion nearly every week. People like that. Its a part of the worship service that could be described as ‘a moment of dependence’. People may reflect on the suffering and sacrificial death of the Lord...
My children are uniquely different from one another. And certainly there are significant differences and distinctions between my sons and daughter. Today, people are having difficulty acknowledging the differences between men and women. I don’t...
I am a big advocate for preserving the individual freedoms we uniquely enjoy in the United States. I love that over time we have codified a number of civil rights that emanate from our inalienable rights. However, as a Christian, I am discovering...
I have some strengths and weaknesses too. I guess we all do. Some of the weaknesses people have are spiritual. They have not experienced the freedom available to them because of their previous beliefs and practices. In a superstitious way, some of...
I cannot imagine life without the companionship, partnership, and love of my wife. I love being married. Without her, I would fall into sinful lust for sure. So, the question of marriage was resolved over 35 years ago. Today, I see a growing group...
It seems like many people are powerless and stuck in many addictions, pain, and patterns of life that are detrimental to themselves and others around them. That’s sad. They have been mastered by sin, distraction or injury. I had an...
Remember in school when you didn’t like a subject… and you asked the teacher sarcastically- “when will I ever use this?” You might have been talking about algebra (by the way, I use math every day!) In my mind, I always...
Life is fun! You may wonder if Christians have fun or not? I used to wonder that. Let me assure you that following Christ is a ton of fun. It is a whole lot more too. Its profound purpose, relationship with God, a sense of miracle every day, and so...
We make a lot of judgments in life. Some of those are about other people. The Corinthian believers were not sure what to make of the Apostle Paul. The group of believers were divided, fleshly, and immature. Paul writes and says that their assessment...
I remember years ago, pastor Greg Laurie reminded us that “your body is a temple, not a playground”. Yes, we nodded. Then he added “until you are married, then its both!” Now that’s funny… and true. God is making...
There is a self deception that can occur when we idolize people. I really liked listening to and watching TV news commentator Bill O’Reilly. I watched The Factor, listened to his audiobooks (The Killing series), and Kaenan and I went to see...
I would like to think that as I get older I am still learning new things. Of course, I should take time to relearn what I once knew too. Much of what I know is just revealed in life and nature. These are the things any natural person can understand...
When I first heard about Jesus, I was confused and didn’t really understand the power within His story. I thought the idea of being crucified by His enemies meant that He had ‘lost” and anyone following Him was a loser too. Never...
My friend Mike said something many years ago that illustrates a profound problem and truth in Christianity. He said “Doug, do you know why Christian music bands can’t save the world?” I replied “No, Mike… why not...
I had a dream the other night that I was sharing my faith with a rather unhappy woman who was not a believer and (in the dream) was expressing her ardent opposition to God (even though she claimed to not believe in Him). I made a simple defense of...
I look around today and I see or hear about great problems, desperate and lost young people. Many lack resiliency and perseverance and hope. Why the Bible is not made available to every person is a great mystery to me. Of all the books I have read...
God has given us as believers a great deal of freedom. We can eat what we want, drink what we want, so long as our conscience is clear and the food is clean (not specifically prohibited). But, what matters more, my liberty or the soul of another...
I enjoyed some spicy sausage patties for breakfast today. I know some people are given dietary restrictions from their doctors (low sodium, etc.), others are prescribed what to eat and not eat by their religious traditions. This is an area that God...
Our world is changing faster than ever before. The forces of darkness and worldly philosophy are prevalent everywhere. But, so is the sanctifying influence of God. As Christians, we believe one day Jesus will return. Our race will be over. So, what...
My lovely bride and I will board a plane in about 24 hours to fly to the holy lands. We will be in Israel, the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a believer in Christ, I am thinking about the rich heritage I have been afforded by the Jewish...
Good things happen in life and very bad things do too. There are blessings and trials alike. Whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, you will experience similar joys and pains in this life. But, what do I know as believer that is so helpful and...
I feel close to God when I am in nature. If I am sitting in the lineup with my buddies at San O, bobbing up and down as waves pass under and looking at the horizon or the rugged cliff coastline- I sense Him and feel a sense of awe about God. Some...
I don’t like asking other people for help. Maybe its a bit of pride. I am kind of a DIY guy (Do It Yourself). There are some things in life we must do for ourselves. Right? Listen to music, hold the hand of your spouse as you walk along, enjoy...
The mega rock band The Police (with Sting) sang the hit song De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da- which sounds like a baby babbling. But the lyrics are actually fairly profound. “Poets, priests, and politicians, have words to thank for their positions...
I have a power in my life that once was not present. I have had some ability to resist certain temptations all my life. For whatever reason, I don’t tend to have an addictive personality. I realized some people are wired up with a proclivity...
I love the feeling of working hard and as a result being able to buy something special for my wife or family… even just paying my mortgage! Its the feeling of accomplishment, I guess. Getting what you deserve resonates with all of us. But...
I used to listen to KMET rock radio station as a teen. The DJs had different names for each day: WhooYa Monday, Titillating Tuesday, Humpday Wednesday, Champagne Payday Thursday (one of my favs)… I think in those years, many people got paid on...
I was teaching a new believers class yesterday at church. In the class I describe how Christians are ‘positionally’ righteous before God, because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross. Simply said- God treats us as if we are as...
I came to faith in Christ at age eighteen. That didn’t make me perfect in word, thought and deed. But, something tremendous did happen- I was adopted into God’s forever family and I received His grace and forgiveness of sin, and I became...
I can still hear the echo in my head of my wife’s mom Mari, when frustrated, exclaim “Jiminy Cricket!” Jiminy Cricket is the sidekick friend of Pinocchio’s who also represents to some degree, his conscience. The name Jiminy...
I wonder and often worry about God’s favor and blessing upon my life. I am certainly blessed without deserving it. I’m not perfect, for sure. I make mistakes and I do what I myself do not approve, let alone failing to do all that God...
I can only remember one or two times that my dad was a bit ashamed of me. One was when I was cursing on the walkie talkies to my brothers. (you know junior high stuff), and then again when I was fighting, really fighting with my brother Jimbo. I...
I love that life has many journey’s. I enjoy going new places and taking on challenges. But, ultimately, all of our journeys will come to an end. For the apostle Paul, his many journeys ended in Rome and what God did through his life...
We’ve heard the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans”, right? It general, it means to abandon your previous held morals and simply act like those around you. Compromising convictions is not a good way to live and certainly is not...
I love survivor stories that include some miraculous encounter with God or an angel who assures a praying and penitent person that they will be saved. The apostle Paul was one of those people more than once. Time and time again he was rescued from...