Blog
It’s interesting how far our personal history extends into the past, and how far into the future it will be revealed. Yesterday, Jan and I were driving on I-5 in Oregon when we stopped at a rest stop north of Woodburn, Oregon. When I got out of our truck, I parked in...
I was driving my truck through town last week and noticed a vehicle in front of me being towed away. At the stoplight, I took a photo of the car. What caught my attention was the bumper sticker attached to the vehicle – "Please be Patient. Student driver." A student...
A new sign was recently placed at the entrance to the trails I hike each week. It is a sign that clearly specifies what is prohibited on the trails: horses and mules. It was the distinct prohibition of mules that caught my attention. Apparently, someone thought it was...
In 1991, I visited Russia when it was still the old Soviet Union. Later that year, the Soviet Union dissolved, and Ukraine became a free and separate nation. The first leg of my visit took me to Moscow, the seat of Soviet power. The city felt dark and foreboding. We...
There are reasons why the Church can descend into a limited version of faith without expecting something more. In that state, we will represent a dull and lifeless faith, not expecting that something more will be revealed. After the miraculous healing of a lame man at...
Thirty years ago, Jan and I lived in Berlin, Germany. We were assigned to help coordinate the missions ministries of the Foursquare Church in Eastern Europe. As we continued in our assignment, we were invited to speak and teach across other European nations. After a...
The day after we celebrated the events of the Lord’s resurrection, we needed to know our next step, just like the first disciples. After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples and did several things. We need to know what the Lord did when He called...
On this Easter morning, as we do each year, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. But there is one more thing we fail to recognize. Each act leading up to the Lord's enthronement, His death, and His resurrection is a critical part of the events of that...
As I was finishing a hike in the mountains above our home, I walked out of the woods onto a city street. In the distance, I heard a crowd of children shouting and screaming with joy. When the crowd of kids finally appeared, I could see that a teacher and her...
Jesus and His disciples were straightforward about the need for a pure and undiluted faith - a faith in Jesus alone. They did not pull punches or dance around the truth about Jesus. John wrote that Jesus alone was the only way, the only truth, and the only way to...
I was walking through the cemetery in our town when I noticed a tree that was bent over. It was the victim of a recent windstorm. What was strange about the tree was that it was not uprooted or broken. It was still alive and growing. In the storm damage that took...
There are times when we are led to speak the truth to people. When the truth is spoken, some will accept it, but others will respond by saying something similar to, “How dare you interrupt my delusions!” When this happens, it is wise to exhibit patience by...
Jan and I have never viewed tithing as a form of law but as a way to honor the Lord. In some circles, it's popular to neglect, demean, or dismiss the practice of tithing, considering it an out-of-date practice from the Law. Posting what I am about to write will raise...
We tend to form our faith around people with similar beliefs and actions. We create systematic theologies and codes of religious conduct that limit our interaction with other believers. Once those things are in place, we can become exclusive. There is nothing wrong...
While our faith is secure and protected by the Lord, when we allow our assumptions to lead us, we position ourselves in a place of vulnerability where the devil can have his way with us. We can attend religious gatherings like a church service and think we are good...