My life has not been what I would call a ‘perfectly straight path’. There have been zigs and zags and loops back to points of starting over. How about you? But even in seasons that seem like I am repeating or sliding backwards in some...
When you grow up with brothers and sisters, you love them all, but sometimes one is closer to you than others. Its just natural and normal- sometimes because of age or other circumstances. I played sports on teams with both my older and younger...
Life has its ups and downs. Live long enough and you will see reversals of fortune, good times and bad, and some amazing moments where God exalts you from humiliation. That feels very good. And when men praise you, remind them that good in us is...
I am on the Grace Plan. Do you know what I mean by that? I am not trying to ‘earn’ my right standing with God or do enough good to be acceptable to Him. Its by His grace (unmerited favor) that I am saved. I did nothing to earn it. While...
There are seasons of life where we prosper. Our journey is successful and accompanied by good health and provision. There is also a prospering of the soul that is independent of any externalities or earthly success. It is a byproduct of walking in...
I see so many parents struggling with teens and young adults who are confused by pop culture, modern media, and their equally lost friends who are promoting error and all kinds of philosophies contrary to sound doctrine and godly living. They are...
Have you ever wondered why deceit, lies, and falsehood are wrong? Does a little white lie matter? If a public official embellishes their accomplishments on a resume to get elected, is that problematic? If a significant leader in charge of the US...
When we were teenagers we used to play the game: Truth or Dare. You’d be asked a personal embarrassing question, and then have the choice to tell the truth or accept a dare or challenge from your friends. Its a great game while hanging out in...
Over the course of my life there have been things other than God that have captured my attention, affection and devotion. I see so many people who are pursuing those same things that the Bible calls false Gods and idols. All around there are those...
When I was growing up, Jim Stafford sang a hit song “I Don’t Like Spiders And Snakes”. That describes me perfectly because they scare me! In a medical journal, scientists believe that fear is innate and observable from as early as...
I believe in a God I cannot see. Do you? Skeptics may say, as I certainly once did… “seeing is believing”. What I meant by that is that our five senses help us discern what is real. But many things are unseen and still very real...
I have been worried in recent years about the inability of people in our society to discern what is right and true. Social media platforms provide an ability for broadcasting ideas that are quite contrary to that of the Savior. It seems like today...
Have you heard people say… “love is an action”? Or maybe they say “love is a verb”. What I think they mean is that if we have love in our heart, we will do something because of it. It’s more than a feeling. I...
There is a song “Everybody Ought To Know Who Jesus Is”. I agree with that sentiment completely. Much of my life is devoted to that endeavor. But, sometime people get the wrong “Jesus”. The real and historical Jesus of...
All of us are at different stages in our spiritual journey and knowledge (personal experience) with God. Certain themes emerge in these seasons. For instance, when I first responded to the gospel and was “saved”, I was so excited that I...
Have you met people who talk as if they know God in a personal way? I thought that was rather curious, odd, and bit bold as well. Today, I almost take it for granted because its become my experience. Can someone really know Him? And if so, is there...
Have you heard the saying “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven”? That’s true of course. But, sometimes we pretend that we never sinned and that we don’t sin anymore, now that we are saved. John, the beloved apostle...
Christmas is a season of lights. We have lights on houses (mine look pretty good this year, although my wife says one strand is ‘drooping’), we have lights on trees, all kinds of lights. Why? Its to remind us of the Great Light that came...
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...