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...
When hellish spirits realize their ability to control individuals and nations is coming to an end, they will become desperate, absurd, and reactionary. Because of God’s faithfulness and the prayers of His people, the grasp of these spirits is currently being peeled...
This morning, several hours before dawn, I went outside to start my smoker in preparation to smoke a pork shoulder. The smoking process will take about 10 hours, so I needed to get an early start. It was one of those crisp and clear early fall nights when stars...
If you have ever walked across terrain that has become what is called “gumbo mud” you understand the unique challenge it presents. Gumbo mud forms from silty soil when it becomes wet forming a waxy and very sticky kind of mud. Gumbo glues itself to shoes, tires, and...
Not all change, no matter how lofty or socially appealing it might appear, is for our good. We must discover the birthing place where seeds of change were originally planted so we can discern what kind of crop we will harvest in the future. The Greek word “meta” means...
Some of you have found yourselves experiencing a John the Baptist moment. You are calling out from the isolation of a social wilderness. Your message might sound discordant to what has become the accepted norm for a life of faith. What you speak can challenge...
For some reason, many within the Church think the New Testament represents a positive cuddle-fest. They have been taught a cinematic version of a white European Jesus who seems to levitate across culture never raising His voice or addressing error. Their...
Today, our local newspaper announced it will no longer publish a print version. The paper will now convert to an online publication. This announcement went out to a service area of 200,000+ people. Printing and labor costs were involved, but the main driver in the...
Decals of deception have been placed on people, institutions, and nations. These decals are an attempt to gain our attention and rob us of hope. They divert our focus and prevent us from seeing the deeper redemptive work of God that has been taking place under the...
The apostolic must take precedence over a corporate decision-making process because the corporate spirit will always attempt to reduce the apostolic to a place of managerial submission. This is not just true in matters of business that are conducted in a corporate...
Recently, I was watering the yard plants for someone who was away on vacation. We have traded the favor on previous occasions when one of us went away on vacation. As I watered my way around the property, I came across a small wire trap used to trap ground squirrels...
This morning, Jan and I woke up feeling it was a new day. Here’s why. A few weeks ago, I was lifting a box and heard a loud popping sound in my left shoulder. The sound was so loud it startled me. The next day, I developed a large bruise over my entire bicep. After...
Growing up, I had a Bible resting on my bedstand. My mom gave it to me. Like most kinds, I can’t remember reading it much, but it was always there. It was a presence. I saw the Bible when I went to sleep and again when I awoke. When I looked up toward the ceiling...