Blog
In prayer, an image developed that was shocking, to say the least. It was of a body bag, the kind used by a coroner to transport a dead body from a place of death to a morgue. As I continued to pray, the dead body within the bag began to rustle. Then I began to hear...
Thirty years ago, Jan and I were in Toledo, Spain. The architecture of the city is stunning revealing remnants of historic Spain. I knew in the city some of the world’s most gifted artisans created the finest chef knives made from the best steel. I found an old...
The prophetic gift within the Church is like a choir. This prophetic choir produces a multi-dimensional sound. Each person sings within a personal assignment as varied as soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass. A choir of...
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...
When God makes a promise there is always that space of time that exists between God speaking the promise to us and the promise becoming a reality. Sometimes that space of time is a moment and sometimes it can be a lifetime. How are we supposed to live in the “until...
As a kid, my dad would take me each month to one of those real old-time barbershops that had a revolving barber pole out front and a barber who smelled like hair cream and had a couple of long thin black combs poking up from within his breast shirt pocket. For the...