Blog
People are always looking for the key to live a life of faith. What matters most can appear so simple that we can miss it. We want to do something to prove our faithfulness. In our haste, we will make premature decisions and take courses of action that will not honor...
When a ministry or a denomination demands NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements) be set in place with all involved parties, it reveals that attorneys, not the Spirit of God is at work to protect the interests of the guilty and to protect corporate interests. Perhaps this...
Some forms of ministry don’t go deep enough. They fail to go to the root of an issue – the cause and effect of what is happening on the surface of a person’s life. In our attempts to help a person, if we do not address the root issues, we leave people with the root...
Jealousy and the improper use of money have derailed the faith of many people, leaders, and followers alike. Only confession and repentance can break the influence of these sins. Without confession and repentance, people will move deeper into their sin without the...
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...