Blog
As we enter an election year in America a lot of issues are on the table. The most important issues are not the ones we are being told are important. Something yet undefined lurks behind the issues that are causing our unease. People are fearful and nervous about the...
When we become hopeless before God because of our disobedience, the Lord will make a way for the restoration of our relationship with Him by demonstrating the depths of His love. There is never a time when recapturing our hope is not possible for those who are distant...
Repeatedly throughout the book of Ezekiel, a theme emerges after Israel disobeys God, “Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Typically, this follows Israel disobeying God following the ways of foreign lands, and worshipping other gods. As the judgments of God and...
Every marriage has little rituals. One of our rituals takes place every morning. Each day, I rise a few minutes before Jan to start the coffee and get set up in my writing chair. When Jan walks into the living room I stand and we hug. I usually kiss her on the neck...
In my 50th year, a friend invited me to climb the tallest mountain overlooking our region. Mount McLoughlin stands 9,499 feet. For the last almost 8,000 years it has held prominence in our area. Before that, it lived in the shadow of the volcanic peak known as Mount...
There are a few things that will elicit an emotional, gut-wrenching and sometimes sobbing joy in me. This happens when an unnoticed underdog rises to a place of freedom and victory before an audience of doubters. It can be a timid singer on a talent show stage who...
A few days ago someone made an honoring comment about me in reference to something I wrote. They did not direct the comment to me personally. The person was writing to the people who follow their ministry. I found out about the comment just because I stumbled across...
The image was a bit shocking. I saw someone walking across a stage. They were speaking to an audience. They were in the middle of making a presentation when all of a sudden the entire stage background and all the stage props crashed down around them. The performer...
My daughter, Anna, is an accomplished artist. Her art hangs in collections around the world. In the hallway of our home is one of Anna’s paintings. It's a Chagall-like image of a cat. The painting is professionally framed. As I walked by the painting today, I noticed...
Jan and I have been on the road for a few days speaking at a conference in one city then preaching in a church in yet another city. When we travel like this our hosts reserve a nice hotel room for us so we can be fresh and rested. We have stayed in a lot of different...
I had something hilarious happen today. A private message came to me on my Twitter account regarding a video I shared. The person asked me, “How do you stay centered and stable. How is it done?” Assuming they were talking about spiritual things, I said, “By...
When we pile on a perceived error the truth gets buried. This piling on can resemble a football game where the ball is in the hands of one of the players at the bottom of the heap. The officials referring the game must remove each person from the pile to find the...
Have you ever started to sing the opening lines of an old song but forget the rest of the lyrics? You sounded great singing the first few words then mumbled the remainder of the chorus hoping you might recall the lyrics. I just did that with an old 60’s song. As I was...
I have sensed the presence of darkness trying to push believers to a place of disillusionment and despair. The rapid changes taking place in faith and culture have caused some to feel worn down to a place of spiritual thinness. Trusted voices have abandoned positions...
There are times when I am asked to help churches make transitions in pastoral leadership. When meeting with the primary leadership team of a church in transition, I will three questions. 1. What kind of church do you have? I ask people to describe the relational...