Blog
It has been too easy for some people to downplay the impact of Scripture and the principles it reveals, especially those found in the Old Testament. God's principles and truths remain unchanged in both covenants. In an age where we can too easily dismiss hard truths...
The Lord leads His people into spiritual conflict with weapons of warfare that seem insignificant and ineffective in natural battles. Those weapons will be dismissed because they seem insignificant when faced with the spiritual giants of the culture. The story of...
It's never too late to discover new mysteries about God and His Kingdom. That would include what we know about our Earth that we did not know existed. As my pastoral ministry was coming to a close, I wrote a compilation of essays to leave behind for our staff who...
I had a teacher in high school who was interested in his student's lives. He attended various after-school events, from sports to drama, to show his support for his students. During one of my swim meets, he attended the event. Everything was fine until the starter...
I remember the first time I heard what is called in police work a “mic check.” I heard my first mic check as a rookie cop still in the early stages of my training. A mic check happens when a cop picks up the microphone on their in-car radio and simply depresses the...
Some who follow Jesus can appear to die before their time. What is interpreted as an early death can be confusing to those left behind. There are other reasons for an early departure from this life. “Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no...
Fifty-three years ago, my wife, Jan, was a student at what was then known as Multnomah School of the Bible. We would eventually meet on campus when our paths crossed one day which led us to love and a life-long commitment to each other. One of Jan’s classes was...
I write this not to create a riddle because it lacks pertinent definition or to write something so prophetic sounding that it will stump the reader. Numbers can reveal things like history and a repeat of the past. We each need to do our research, under the direction...
I saw the image of a tornado tossing about the debris of human opinion. The storm was a distraction. What was true for Elijah is true for us. Elijah was told the Lord was not in the storm. He is the still small voice offering the peace of God's truth. If we want that...
How we choose to see God in the middle of the trauma and troubles of life will determine how we live. Apart from making that choice, despair and depression will rule the day. The word of God offers adjustments to our thinking when dark and dismal outcomes are ruling...
When Israel realized the Assyrian army was about to overcome their nation, it was a desperate time. Fear and uncertainty were overcoming the hearts of the people. At that time, Isaiah offered the people an invitation, “Search the book of the Lord and see what he will...
As I read through the book of Isaiah, blessings are surrounded by warnings for the continuance of people’s sins. They are buried within the text. God's blessings require engagement on His terms to receive the blessing. This isn't an Old Testament thing we can ignore....
I have noticed a trend among some believers. They are attempting to change the nature of God. Some of the motivation behind this change comes from reading difficult sections of Scripture and assuming there is no deeper understanding behind the challenging facts being...
Reading the Old Testament prophets can scare some people. They read the harsh treatment of God upon the rebellion of His people and miss the point that before God’s harshness was displayed the people had plenty of opportunity to repent. They confuse God’s judgment...
I read a phrase that connected me to a time in my past life. I first heard the phrase when I became a cop. The phrase is “Old School.” It can refer to old timers in any field of endeavor who have been there and done that. The phrase and its meaning stirred my memories...