Blog
Some of the most intense truths in Scripture are the final words of Jesus to His disciples after the Last Supper. His words were spoken in recognition of a world that rejects the truth and persecutes those who follow Him. We want to get along with all people, but a...
I was hiking a trail on the hills above our home when I came across a rare flower in full bloom. The flower was from the lily family of plants called the Gentner’s Fritillaria. This little lily only grows in a microclimate found in Southern Oregon. God was very...
We are familiar with the stunning miracle of the healing of a blind man at the Pool of Bethesda and the Pharisees' negative reaction. The healing of the blind man took place on the Sabbath—a day no one was allowed to “work.” They called his parents in for questioning....
As impossible as it can seem to gain a victory over embedded evil, God will always reveal a way into a fortress of darkness, enabling us to rename what has been held captive, giving it a new name – a name that aligns with the will of God. Scripture speaks of a city...
We tend to focus only on the last part of Proverbs 31 when we describe a virtuous woman. That virtuous description focuses on the practical aspects of life, such as providing clothing for her family, preparing meals, and even buying and selling real estate. This...
We all understand that the end of our lives will come someday. That ending is expected with the arrival of old age, but some endings may come unexpectedly, either by accident or disease. How we process the reality of the statement, "We are all going to die," will...
If we are unwilling to allow God to intervene on our behalf when we are wronged, it will open the door for us to partner with the very evil that initially came against us. Seeking revenge will create a series of paybacks that will lead us into an ever-increasing cycle...
When the spirit of anarchy is afoot in a nation, it can inspire people to commit evil and dishonorable acts. It can also cause people to support those who want to see those evil and dishonoring acts take place. Sadly, it can also stir up those in the Church who lack...
It has been too easy for some people to downplay the impact of Scripture and the principles it reveals, especially those found in the Old Testament. God's principles and truths remain unchanged in both covenants. In an age where we can too easily dismiss hard truths...
The Lord leads His people into spiritual conflict with weapons of warfare that seem insignificant and ineffective in natural battles. Those weapons will be dismissed because they seem insignificant when faced with the spiritual giants of the culture. The story of...
It's never too late to discover new mysteries about God and His Kingdom. That would include what we know about our Earth that we did not know existed. As my pastoral ministry was coming to a close, I wrote a compilation of essays to leave behind for our staff who...
We've been told that it's by always moving forward along a predictable and linear path that God will define our lives. There are times, however, when we will be called to step aside from that predictable path to follow an unexpected latitude of life we did not expect...
There are times when we think we want something, and when that request is granted, it’s not always the best thing. After the people of Israel asked for a king, it was seen by the Lord as a violation of His covenant with them. God was to lead the nation, not a man. It...
Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, hasn't lost an election. He has never run for political office, nor will He ever do so. Jesus and those who follow Him represent another Kingdom - a Kingdom not of this world. His followers are not dependent on the results...
Today, the idols held sacred and put on display in our culture will be demolished by the presence of the Lord. The assumed victories of these false gods will not stand forever. Truth will be used to bring them down to defeat. A compromised priest named Eli had two...