Blog
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....
In every generation, something is revealed that seems to scorch the reputation of God’s people. Betrayals, lust, and greed are nothing new to Him, but they still surprise us. We are often unaware of our heart’s true condition. These exposures of sin remind me of what...
This week, cities in our nation are being shaken by riots. Los Angeles is at the top of the list of the cities being shaken. As concerning as such incidents are, a greater shaking will happen under the hand of God. All the earthly shaking we see taking place is...
Everything thing we hope for is invisible to the natural eye. These hoped-for outcomes remain hidden in our faith until God’s time for fulfillment is complete, and the promise is finally revealed. When the faith of Moses was being described, it was defined this way,...
Some book introductions can provide a wealth of information about the author. In 1980, a collection of writings by A.W. Tozer was assembled and titled "The Treasury of A.W. Tozer." In the book's introduction, it was said of Tozer, "Tozer marched to a different...
This week, the news media reported that an immense swarm of Ukrainian drones destroyed military targets deep inside Russia. Russia has also used drones in this war. The release of drones during combat looks like a flock of angry birds attacking their targets. A shift...
I explained to Jan what I was doing when I was sharpening a knife: “A dull knife is useless.” Without a sharp blade, a dull knife cannot fulfill its purpose. Hope is what keeps the blade of our faith sharp. Hopelessness dulls our spiritual knife, making us unable to...
On a recent hike, I looked up and saw vultures circling above the canyon where I was hiking. I sensed that I was watching something with a spiritual message. I paused my hike and watched the vultures. Vultures have a highly developed sense of smell. Vultures circle...
I have noticed a variety of redefinitions people use to describe God. He has been called The Great Spirit, The Divine, The Consciousness, The Essence, and The Cosmos. While God can reflect some of those names, He is very distinct. He is God the Father, and Jesus is...
Some things are worth contending over, such as the divinity and exclusivity of salvation in Jesus, the nature of God, and living a holy life. The remaining issues are not worth dividing the Church over, as they are merely matters of human opinion. Paul was...
A life not directed by the truth of Scripture will not finish well. It will be absorbed with things outside the bounds of truth, embracing what is counterfeit. That person will too easily embrace errors regarding human sexuality, the purpose of earthly wealth, and,...
A wise pastor once said, "If you want to discover what motivates a person, look at their checkbook." That truth was shared with me years ago before online banking and financial apps became widely available. The same principle holds true today, as many are using...
Most of us are aware of Paul's warning to Timothy about what will happen in the last days, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times, some will turn away from the true faith" (I Timothy 4:1). We quote this verse with regularity but fail to realize...
A reminder of past prophetic words spoken over someone is of greater value than hours of counseling. Counseling is primarily about helping individuals manage their emotions and respond effectively to life's challenges. A prophetic word is different. It leads us like a...