Blog
One of the greatest enemies of our faith in a moment of conflict is panic. Whether you just received a surprise announcement of a divorce or got a notice of the loss of your job or any unexpected event that alters your life profoundly, each one initially produces the...
Last night, the Lord told me when I woke up this morning that I was to begin thanking Him for the people in my life. I thought it would be one of those quick offerings of thanksgiving for my immediate family and close friends, but God had another plan. Without...
For the last few days, a team of workers has been clearing the forest above our home of dead trees and debris. When a forest fire ignites and advances, it’s the dead wood that creates an overly destructive fire threatening nearby homes. The workers are stacking the...
An old and familiar false promise has appeared once again. It’s hand is extended inviting you to resume a dance from your past. You gave yourself to the false promise of this music once before and it led you across a glittered dance floor away from your true...
It is possible to lose interest in a human interpretation of the Church, but not in God. If you have lost interest, allow God to refocus your vision. This refocusing will carry with it a new infusion of life and purpose that will help you see your circumstance with...
This morning, as I listened to a powerful moment of worship on my Pandora account, the worship leader shifted to a spontaneous song and then led the people deeper into an unscripted song of the Spirit. This song was in heavenly tongues that sounded like many waters...
Your way forward resembles a stormy path filled with wind, rain and uncertainty. The promise you are holding is like a single candle flickering in a protected place. You have hesitated to leave the comfort of this protected enclosure because you think the...
Conspiracy theories surface from time-to-time in our culture. These conspiracy theories need enemies in order create their narrative. They require the seeds of fear and doubt to be planted in the garden of our mind. A conspiracy theory has the power to convince...
I remember the first time I heard someone address the futility of a culture war when my pastor Roy Hicks, Jr. said, “You can put a Christian in every position from the local dog catcher to the White House and you will still only have a world system.” I went away from...
God promised to never leave or forsake His people. He never promised any nation would stand throughout time. Understanding God’s use or lack of use of the word “never” will bring clarity, peace and a renewed perspective to your life and calling. A...
God wants to lighten the load of your theology. Some of you are carrying too much non-essential theological baggage. This load of excess baggage will inhibit you from moving forward at the speed and flexibility required to navigate this current season of...
About thirty years ago, I was a young pastor sitting in a long and spirited business meeting during our yearly denominational convention. A topic on the agenda was getting some heated response from the floor of the convention body. My pastor, Roy Hicks,...
We all have the tendency to try and distance ourselves from the places of our greatest weakness. Somewhere in our journey of faith we discover a hidden gem of truth - our weak places are where God promises to do His most powerful work. Jesus revealed this gem of truth...
(The following is Chapter 45 from my book, The Leadership Rock. Today, I felt a nudge that a pastor, someone in business or anyone leading something somewhere needed this encouragement.) Twenty years ago, I sat in a large convention center with several thousand...
Where I live in southern Oregon we have something called the Bear Creek Greenway. The Greenway is a nature corridor that follows Bear Creek as it winds its way through the beautiful Rogue Valley. Part of the Greenway is a paved bike path that travels 20 miles...