Gratitude

Gratitude

The ten lepers slowly, but deliberately, hobbled down the middle of the street, knowing that at any minute someone might come out from the shadows and shoo them away.  They were desperate. They had to find out if what they had heard was true.  Stumbling along the way, leaning on their canes, covering their faces…

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Don’t Take The Force With You

Don’t Take The Force With You

It was 1967 and according to the hit musical Hair, it was “The Age of Aquarius.”  That song was the number one pop single for six weeks, and all over the nation, schools were teaching their students the song by the same name.  Few knew what the song meant, but that didn’t seem to matter…

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You Need To Be Offended

You Need To Be Offended

Offense is a powerful strategy in spiritual battles.  It proves our faith and makes us strong.  It is not designed to bring defeat, but to cement our faith.  Jesus used the power of offense to reveal the hearts of those listening to Him.  He called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs, blind fools, and hypocritical.  He called…

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Never Alone

Never Alone

I had only been driving a few months when my dad told me to go to the store and pick up a few things.  My grandparents were visiting and my mom needed a few groceries.  It never occurred to me to check the gas gage (a problem I still have today), and on the way…

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Betrayal

Betrayal

He sat in his tent, rocking back and forth.  Over and over he said, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul.  Did you hear me soul?  I said bless the Lord.”  On and on, like some kind of refrain, he continued until the fear that threatened to paralyze him dissipated. …

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Treasures

Treasures

Covered with bandages hiding his bloody scabs and scars, the man limped his way to Jesus.  He had almost given up all hope and wondered if he should end his life when he heard the healer was coming.  The leper had to push his way through a crowd that didn’t want him there.  From all…

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Hinge Moments

Hinge Moments

Have you ever thought about the little “day to day” things that you do and wonder if they matter? It’s easy to fall into Satan’s trap, believing that our lives are meaningless. Simple mundane days pass quickly, and before you know it, a week, month, or year has gone, and you felt as if you…

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PKs

PKs

I attended a baby dedication a few weeks ago.  It was a lovely day where friends and family gathered round praying a blessing on the newborn.  Mom, dad, and siblings listened as their pastor (who happened to also be grandpa to the newborn)  read from the book of 2 Timothy.  How delighted I was that…

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The Job

The Job

Thinking back about the early days when Fred and I were pastoring a small church, I remembered the times when I felt like I was just doing the job. It was a terrible feeling. I remember cleaning the church, sweeping the floors, scrubbing the stairway, and wondering if anybody knew or cared that I was…

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When Ministry Hurts – Building

When Ministry Hurts – Building

Saturday morning, I was up before everyone else.  While humming in the kitchen, I furiously whipped up pancake batter for the dozen students from a nearby Bible school who were spending the weekend with us.  They were helping us remodel our 100-year-old church building.   My four-year-old was tugging on my shirt and the frying…

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