Blog
As a rookie patrol officer, my FTO (Field Training Officer) took me aside the first night we were assigned as partners. He said “I understand you are trained in martial arts. There's more happening on the streets than your physical skills can protect you from. You've...
The riots in France that are now spilling over into Switzerland and Belgium remind me of what is happening in the Church. This will not be a season of smooth sailing. We have entered dangerous waters where hidden reefs of deception have been placed in our way to...
We all appreciate words of hope. They help us pick up our defeated feet and keep us moving forward in faith. A word of warning is not always appreciated or understood with the same kind of welcome because it will many times require a change in how we view the world or...
I have a pastoral coach. In years past I have had those wonderful relationships with other believers where we walked with each other through the seasons of life. Our iron sharpened each others iron. But this is the first time I have ever had a personal coach - someone...
Please don't let the title of this posting offend you - I will try to explain. About 30 years ago my brother, Dwain, built a beautiful laminated wood cross for me that hung in the sanctuary of the first church I pastored. The cross was a combination of beauty and raw...
Each week I get a note from our bookkeeper letting me know the amount of our Sunday offerings. I was humbled at the giving of our people considering the condition of the world economy. I went back into my office and got down on my knees and thanked God for His...
For a year God had parked me in the Book of Acts. Acts was my yearlong assignment. For a year I read Acts in my private time with God. Each day I studied its history and culture. I soaked in its revelation and wisdom. Since Acts was the clearest picture of the church...
It is early Thursday morning and I am reflecting over our Wednesday night service. We have been doing something different on Wednesday nights. Last night our time together, not much more than an hour, was simple - I read Philippians from start to finish, no preaching...
Honor creates a supernatural environment. Without living in honor with all people, the Church can never rise into the fullness of her calling and see the miraculous transformation God has planned for the nations. Honor is a word that means, “to value someone or...
Almost thirty years ago I was sitting around a table with five other young and inexperienced pastors. We were in a small meeting room at Montana State University in Billings, Montana. Seated with us was Jerry Cook, the author of the tremendous book, "Love, Acceptance...
For years I taught people how to create mission statements for their lives and how to develop a vision along with a personal set of values. It was good, but I don't do that anymore. At first these vision planning sessions excited me. Then something changed. A hunger...
Yesterday, Jan and I went to see the movie Valkyrie. The movie was based on the true story surrounding the events of a failed assassination attempt on Hitler at the infamous Wolf's Liar. It was good cinema and Tom Cruise did a great job acting out his character. Many...
Places dedicated to prayer attract me. When I was a student at Multnomah in Portland, Oregon I enjoyed walking into the prayer chapel and sitting on the wooden pews. The chapel is as old as the campus. At one time someone proposed removing the old chapel to make way...
Last week I took a hike. Most of the time I like to hike alone so I can talk with God. My hike began in the historic mining town of Jacksonville that is located in southwestern Oregon. After walking across town I went through the pioneer cemetery and then linked up...
As I look out from my hotel room in Long Beach I see the great Queen Mary passenger ship docked across the harbor. She is visible through an urban forest of yacht masts, man-planted palm trees and large dock cranes. In the distance freighters inch across the horizon...