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...
I was a ketchup loving kid, but a mustard loving adult. Mustard seeds are small round seeds that grow rather quickly to fruition (70-90 days). They are know throughout the middle east and Asia. The seed combined with vinegar or water becomes what we...
At work, we played a game called “secret Santa” where I bought a gift anonymously for someone else. Its kind of fund to guess who got you something special. When Jesus came into the world, he did nothing in secret. And He calls his...
I remember years ago that I was having a conversation with a person who no longer was part of a church. They said “Christianity didn’t work for me”. I thought that was curious but I really had no answer at the time. Now, many years...
I am blessed with two brothers. I have some friends that I call brothers and I know they would stick as close as a brother. But, not everyone is my brother or sister… if they were, there wouldn’t be any power or meaning in calling...
I didn’t have the advantage of growing up in the church. So, when I embraced the forgiveness of God as a teenager, it was like being born again and with a sense of freedom from the guilt and shame and impending judgment. I was pardoned and I...
I try to get along with people. I am after all commanded to love and God does. Not everyone will get along with me. I already know that persecution is promised to all who live godly lives in Christ Jesus. It is interesting at the current moment how...
When my kids were growing up, I often had to tell them “Don’t!”. Don’t touch a hot stove. Don’t put a fork in an electrical outlet. Don’t drink and drive a car. I did these for their benefit, not mine. I would...
I have had meals with some very nice people and some rather sinful one’s too. Sometimes we create artificial boundaries with people. Maybe we are afraid that “they” (sinners) will influence us, forgetting it is us who are to...
I have these moments and I wonder if others do as well. I become aware of my sin and wonder,… do I hide from God and deny them… or do I run to Him and confess, knowing that when I agree with God, He is just and righteous to forgive and...
I want to make a positive impact in the world for the sake and name of Jesus Christ. I would guess all of us want to feel a degree of significance. But something is going woefully wrong. The ‘get rich quick’ mantra that derailed many in...
I have a few favorite teachers from school and college. Usually they possessed some important insight or issued a great challenge that changed my perspective in life. I am grateful for them. One aspect of Jesus’ earthly ministry was to teach...
My life right now is such that I get distracted, interrupted, and delayed fairly often. Maybe in our busyness we are all a bit like that. There are some things in life that require our immediate attention- food cooking on the stove, appointments...
As a parent, it feels really good to know my grown children are doing well in life. As I consider how my kids are right now… I would simply say that I am well pleased. Of course, when they struggle, my joy is diminished. A favorite pastor of...
Sometimes very great movements, discoveries, or social change begin with rather obscure, humble, yet bold actions! Jesus life before His public ministry is largely unknown with just a few facts about His birth, His mother, father, siblings, and one...
My son Keanu used to pray as a young boy, this prayer: “God, I pray today would be a good day, and every day a good day”. Simple. Direct. Cute. But, what about the bad and evil days? It seems that there are many of those in this season...
There was a war declared last week by Israel upon Hamas in response to a brutal attack, partial invasion, and atrocities I would like to forego mention. What Israel realized is that their enemy was already at war with them with a state goal to...
I don’t like to sleep with lights on (unless its an afternoon nap on the couch). So I have this thing that covers my eyes in case my wife is in the nearby room with the light on. My little eye-covering blocks out the light. In the same way...
My grandson Avery imitates me at times. If I sip my hot coffee and then let out a “aaaahhh”. He drinks his milk and does the same. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. He wants to be like his papa. In the same way we are...
I often wanted to do a fun segment in young adult gatherings called “Bad Dates”, where people share about a recent dating experience gone wrong. They could identify a ‘put off’. I think it could be educational. I really...
I didn’t have the advantage of growing up in church. Maybe you did. My experience the last 43 years has afforded me some insight about the church and moreover a profound appreciation for the church. When I talk about ‘the church’...
I’m not saying I’ve been everywhere and done everything at all. But, one thing I have discovered is the amazing and powerful expression of unity in Spirit with Christians in other parts of the world. It doesn’t matter whether...
My two year old grandson, Avery modifies almost every sentence with his favorite word “big”! Want to take a bath, Avery? Big bath, he replies. Want a bite? Big bite, papa! This last Wednesday, a favorite pastor/preacher of mine (Chuck...
There were various measurements used in human history. One measurement was roughly how far one could spread their arms… a fathom. To fathom something has come to mean, discover how long, wide, high or deep it is. The apostle Paul says that...
I saw a video of a ‘crazy Denver Bronco lady/fan’ on instagram. She was obviously upset that her team was losing to the Miami Dolphins. I imagine someone rubbed it in and it set her off. Earlier that day, I hugged a Green Bay Packers fan...
I used to play basketball a lot better than I can now. Back then, I would play with guys like my brother and friends who knew exactly where each other was on the court. Sometimes when the coordination, timing, and movement on the court was so...
I knew a pastor who went through a season of being attacked by people. They were expressing their doubt about his leadership and decision-making (not to him, but gossiping to others). He offered in return, his love, kindness and patience (basically...
I never saw the movie “Dead Man Walking”, but I lived the life. No, not as a criminal awaiting the death penalty- but as a sinner under the wrath of God. Every one of us has been disobedient to God’s holy law. We have incurred the...