Blog
We need to be careful how we describe the Old Covenant. Today, it is becoming increasingly popular to portray the Old Covenant in a negative light. Both the Old and New Covenants were administrated by the same God, the God of Mercy. I want to say something upfront to...
Anything of lasting value that we have to offer to our friends, family, and God’s people was not produced by our natural talent or strength. It came from places of redeemed brokenness, places where the Lord healed us, and where we exchanged the illusion of...
In our backyard is a bird’s nest inside one of our trees. The nest is quiet until the baby birds realize their mother is inbound with food. At that point, they begin to squeal and squawk loudly expressing their hunger and the anticipation of their next meal. I’ve been...
When I started in full-time ministry over 30 years ago most of us wore jackets and ties to preach on Sunday morning. Recently, I looked at some old pictures of me back in the early 1980’s and according to the fashion standards of the day we looked just fine....
“And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.” II Timothy 1:11 When Paul wrote these words to his spiritual son, Timothy, it was the second letter Paul had written bearing Timothy’s name. There is a sense of urgency...
A couple of months ago Jan and I flew to Phoenix, Arizona. My flight was in the month of May so Phoenix was already getting hot. I decided to wear shorts, flip flops and a tee shirt for the flight anticipating a very warm arrival. The flight from Medford,...
When Jan and I lived in Berlin, Germany our ministry assignment during that time was to strengthen and encourage churches and leaders in Europe. As we traveled each week we were constantly crossing national borders. More importantly, we were also crossing...
About 20 years ago I changed how I counsel couples who come to me wanting to get married. I used to struggle with why I didn’t like the more academic approach of having couples read books and take tests to direct their new relationship. There is really nothing...
As I drove to my office this morning I turned on the CD player and a worship song began to declare these words, “Take me where I’ve never been. Take me where I’m scared to go.” Those words began to touch me and I found myself pressing the replay button...
This week, I am preparing to teach out of Mark 3 where two groups of people have expressed personal opinions about Jesus. His family thought He had lost His mind and they wanted to "rescue" Him from His ministry. The teachers of religious law declared that...
"A Choice within a Choice" is a short video excerpt from a message I shared during the Sunday morning service at New Hope in Salem, Oregon. It is about making personal decisions within the larger decisions God has already...
Most of us walk around with labels attached to our lives. Some of these labels were attached to us by our parents others were attached in seasons of personal failure or by unresolved fears that currently inhabit our lives. We will live out the false...
In the center of the valley where I live is a midsize city – Medford, Oregon. We have a large shopping mall anchored by several national chain stores. Sprinkled across the valley are other malls where you can get most anything you would desire. The Rogue...
Our primary model for how to do anything is Jesus. He is our example for how to love. He is our model for leadership. And He is our method of evangelism. Whenever you need to find a way to do anything – go to Jesus first and find out how He did it. I...
Recently, I sent a private Facebook message to a friend of mine who leads an international ministry. My message was prophetic in nature and would seem somewhat cryptic to the casual reader. I trust this leader and knew he would be able to move past the nature of the...