Blog
How we choose to see God in the middle of the trauma and troubles of life will determine how we live. Apart from making that choice, despair and depression will rule the day. The word of God offers adjustments to our thinking when dark and dismal outcomes are ruling...
When Israel realized the Assyrian army was about to overcome their nation, it was a desperate time. Fear and uncertainty were overcoming the hearts of the people. At that time, Isaiah offered the people an invitation, “Search the book of the Lord and see what he will...
As I read through the book of Isaiah, blessings are surrounded by warnings for the continuance of people’s sins. They are buried within the text. God's blessings require engagement on His terms to receive the blessing. This isn't an Old Testament thing we can ignore....
This week, in a conversation with a couple of pastors I respect, I was asked by one of the pastors to share something that would help him finish well in his life calling. I said, "Identify your greatest gift and give it away." A spiritually and emotionally healthy...
As a young and insecure pastor, I listened to Ron Mehl, the pastor of the Beaverton Foursquare Church, give some sage advice. At the time, I had less than 10 people attending my struggling church plant. Ron had thousands. I was asked to meet with a group of equally...
God can take us as equally deep on a journey into the human heart as He can into the deepest parts of unexplored outer space. This life we have with God is far greater than we can comprehend. Keep that perspective in the forefront of your thinking when the trivial...
If a dishonoring ricochet is coming at you fired from a comment made in a private conversation where you were not present to defend yourself, God wants to reveal His heart to you despite what has taken place. In love, the Lord has allowed the comment to become public...
You have entered an unfamiliar place. In this season of change, it feels like you are out of range of normal communication, even with God, but you know that is not true. You just need to learn how to hear Him in a new way in this strange and unfamiliar place. He...
The word theology and the title of theologian do not appear in Scripture. When God gave gifts to equip and mature the Church those gifts were wrapped in the definitions of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. It would be from the ministry of these...
One mark of spiritual maturity is learning how and when to use the personal delete button. Some things should not be shared in a public forum until God has been given the time required to first process the issue in our heart. This is important because an...
We need to do a better job relating to each other when we find ourselves holding an opposing position on an issue of faith. These positions are in essence, only an opinion we have attached to very complex subjects. Our opinions are never the full measure of truth. I...
Last night, I had a powerful dream. It was a nightmare. I dreamt that I had never confessed my worst sins to my wife. It was a horrible feeling – a feeling worse than the sins themselves. When I awoke, I literally thanked God it was just a bad dream. The purpose of...
Lust is a seamy word. We associate its use primarily with sexual sin. It is more than sexual. Lust is defined in Scripture as any strong and undisciplined craving or desire. It can be associated with the unhealthy use of anything in life. Our place of jeopardy begins...
God is restoring what has been considered lost forever. Abandoned relationships, missed business opportunities, and unimagined cultural breakthrough will be some of the examples of these miraculous restorations. These supernatural acts of God will be considered both a...
God is asking many of us to change the filters through which we interpret the issues of life. Some of these filters are so clogged nothing new is able to pass through. We are choking to death for the lack of a fresh breath of revelation. I’m usually on it when it...