Blog
Long before I was a pastor, I worked as a police officer assigned as an intelligence agent in an Organized Crime unit. Our most important discoveries were finding the connections between groups of criminals and the organizations they represented. Some of those...
Last spring, Jan and I said goodbye to our front lawn. We gave away our lawn mower and replaced the lawn with a small orchard of fruit trees, vegetables, and spices, along with other plants that complement the growth and health of the surrounding plants and trees....
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son, also referred to as The Lost Son. What we may not realize is that the father referenced in the story had to go out to meet both of his sons: the returning son who had wasted his inheritance, and the older son...
I held off posting this message until after Christmas because its metaphoric image would not be pleasant for some. In the image, I saw a cow that had been slaughtered and hung up to bleed out prior to butchering and eventual consumption. The interpretation of...
We can have different opinions but still love and serve the same Lord. That way of living has the power to upset the plans of hell and offer an unbelieving world a glimpse of a unity that is only found in Jesus Christ.
I’m beginning to receive words and images to describe the arrival of 2023. These are not grand predictions with names, dates, or describing some dramatic global change. They are personal words and images the Lord will use to align individuals creating a mass of...
At this time of year, after having our Thanksgiving Day gatherings and now moving full steam into the Christmas season, many of us are counting and recounting our blessings of family, friends, and home. Those are good and wonderful things to experience and treasure. I...
I was invited to preach at a church in a European capital city. Just before the service, the pastor took me aside and said, “We don’t talk about the blood of Jesus. We went through World War II, and I am afraid it would make people feel uncomfortable mentioning...
The Church can become so fearful of offending people by expressing the truth of a matter, they will eventually become silent and held captive by that fear, a fear that neuters the impact of their voice. We are called to be a voice speaking the truth in love to a...
When we foolishly think our single piece of a much larger puzzle offers a complete and accurate interpretation of reality and what will take place in the future, God will surprise us. We are like people sitting together with friends who don’t have the puzzle box cover...
While we can underestimate the power of darkness, we should never overestimate its power. A single believer exercising faith is more powerful than an army of hell. “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just...
Anything can be believed if the evidence is presented as an absolute fact giving the impression that it carries an unchangeable status, as unchangeable as God’s word. Only Scripture has the final and unchangeable word on matters of truth. All other forms of evidence...
A significant movement in world financial markets is taking place. I used to consider such things as something mysterious or too complicated and not the business of the Church. Now I see those movements in a different light. They are prophetic reminders that the...
What we are seeing taking place in our world that is disrupting its systems is the drawn sword of God’s truth, His word. He is slicing through those things that are causing the bondage of sorrow and death and leaving people hopeless. If you have limited God’s word to...
I have long felt that leaders of a government who have not been to war should not flippantly be able to make decisions that send men and women into harm’s way. I feel the same regarding those who lead the Church. A leader without spiritual combat experience or one who...