Blog
Throughout history, the Church has allowed leaders to hold positions of authority they should never have been given, gifted or not. Our lack of discernment and failures have rocked everyone across all streams of faith. The Lord will always raise up a new generation of...
This time of year, when spring arrives, I like to sit in our front yard amidst the blooming trees and the early sprouts of new life coming to our garden. As I sit in the warmth of the sun, I like to read. This morning, I was reading through my daughter’s...
Remembering God’s goodness and His greatness protects us from all forms of deception. Today, the Lord is testing the Church, calling us to remember and not forget how He worked in us in the past so we will continue to hold true to Him in the future. After Joshua died,...
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...
While our faith is secure and protected by the Lord, when we allow our assumptions to lead us, we position ourselves in a place of vulnerability where the devil can have his way with us. We can attend religious gatherings like a church service and think we are good...
Jan and I were returning home, driving along Interstate 5 south of Canyonville, Oregon. On this part of the freeway, the roadway is surrounded by steep canyons and sharp curves where Interstate 5 cuts through the mountains. It was on that stretch of road that we had a...
In prayer, I saw an image of believers who had experienced a fresh outpouring of the new wine of God’s Spirit. They did not just taste the new wine. It was poured upon them, drenching them from head to toe in a fresh experience with Jesus. When they returned to the...
Whenever we try to make things right, we will not always do so perfectly. In some of our attempts, we will make a mess before righteous change comes. This is not just in our personal relationships. It affects even how a nation is governed. We are seeing examples of...