OUR WORDS MATTER

From time to time, we need a reminder about how we speak about our leaders. It happened to Paul after his arrest when he declared he was a Roman citizen. An angry mob surrounded Paul and shouted that he was not fit to live.  Paul was brought before the high...

OUR OLDER SELF

I got a year older today. January 1 marks my 76th year.  On my 65th birthday, I joked with Jan and said that we had now become old. She shot back and said, “We aren’t old yet!” On my 70th birthday, I asked the same question and received the same response. Last...

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF TRUTH

I used to hike, doing what is called “bush-wacking.” I hiked for miles across trail-less terrain using a topographical map whose imagery revealed the various elevations of a mountain range and the locations of deep, dead-end canyons. Following that map saved me a lot...

PRODIGAL PRAYERS

Our faith is a connection with the hope of God found only in Christ. That connection remains secure over time, even when our disappointments and failures make us think it has been severed.  This is especially true for the prodigal sons and daughters in our lives...

EVALUATING YEAR-END PROPHECIES

In the week leading up to the New Year, voices within the Church are prophesying what will happen in 2026. Some of these words are from God. Others are declaring what they hoped would happen and call it prophecy. Paul was speaking to Jews who needed to be convinced...