Inspiration
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…
Read MoreThe Sound of Heaven
Life as we know it has changed, some for the better and some for the worse. Unfortunately, we have entered what some may say are dark days. The future looks bleak and worrisome. Threats of war and violence seem just around the corner. These threats come while many are still suffering from the trauma of…
Read MoreAre All Fears Monsters?
Are all fears monsters? The answer is no. Sometimes a fear can be a Wise Warrior showing up to protect you. Generally, we hear that when you feel fear and you make a major decision out of that fear, it will normally not be the best decision to be making at the time. I…
Read MoreBelieve
He made it. Jairus had struggled just to get to the right place and when he got there; he took a sigh of relief. He just hoped it wasn’t too late. Jairus took hold of the hand of Jesus and asked him to go to his home, where his daughter was sick. “My daughter…
Read MoreThe Fight
His wages had been changed several times and each time, he was cheated out of what was rightfully his. Jacob couldn’t take any more. He told his two wives that he’d had enough. He was tired of fighting. It seemed like he had spent his whole life fighting. First, it was his brother and now…
Read MoreThe Trauma Roller Coaster
Have you ever read a social media post that starts out something like this… “To the person who just stole my purse in the Kroger parking lot.” Or “To the person who just cut me off on I-4 and almost made me wreck my car.” First of all, let’s get real. The person who stole…
Read MoreNew Name
Peter stood on the hillside, looking out across the city. His eyes seemed focused on something and yet, at the same time, nothing, his mind a million miles away. “Feed my sheep.” Is that what the Master said? “Feed my sheep?” Yes, that was what Jesus said. Pondering the words, the man who would one…
Read MoreMy Personal New Year’s Thoughts
New Year’s Eve used to be my favorite holiday. Now, it’s my least. That’s because I stopped drinking nearly twenty-nine years ago. When you don’t drink, being around drunks loses its appeal very quickly. If I hadn’t stopped, I doubt I would be alive today, but I am alive and have used my sobriety to…
Read MoreAn Orderly Life is a Happy Life
Many years ago, after transferring my grocery bags into the trunk of my car I noticed the trash I had left in the cart. Deep down inside of me I heard these words, “Clean up your mess.” I picked up my trash and put it in a bag to dispose of when I got home.…
Read MoreThis is Our Worldview Our Weltanschauung
When asked, nearly every Christian will readily acknowledge that God has a purpose for his or her life. This belief is a quintessential aspect of being a believer. It is such a deeply held value that it is common for people like us to regularly reevaluate our purpose in life. By understanding that our…
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