Blog
The greatest transformations Jan and I have seen and experienced in almost 50 years of ministry are those that occurred when we blessed our enemies. Those blessings were not just a one-time expression. Some went on for years, while we continued to bless our enemies...
Last night, I was awakened by the shrill howling of a pack of coyotes after making a kill. They were just across the street from our home and loud enough to wake me while I was deep in sleep. I was in that state between sleep and wakefulness called hypnagogia, where a...
There is much transpiring on the world stage. We are living in a time of great transition and reset in the nations. Iran’s population is revolting against its Islamic leaders, Venezuela had its dictator recently removed, the nations within the European Union are...
When we pray for a deeper revelation of God’s truth, we must prepare our hearts for what will be revealed. An unprepared heart will be overcome by fear because they are not ready to hear the truth and are enslaved by the thoughts of a natural and unredeemed mind. We...
I remember standing with Jan on the rock formation that makes up the Areopagus in Athens, Greece. This is where Paul addressed the people of the city 2,000 years ago. As I stood on the rock, I tried to imagine how Paul might have spoken to the Athenians. As Paul was...
As I read the words of David, it felt like he was writing about the time in which we now live. David said, as troubles in his life increased, “I trust in the Lord for protection” (Psalm 11:1). That was the foundation of David’s peace in the surrounding turmoil. He...
For the last few months, the Lord has challenged Jan and me to address our assumptions and compromises. We have been invited by the Lord to repent and adjust our lives in a more focused way to align our hearts with Him. We know these adjustments are happening in...
I've heard self-overconfident statements of personal bravado being spoken and used in an attempt to convince people of the unfailing nature of a person's faith. The truth is none of us know how we will respond when a real test of our faith comes and our life is in...
False messiahs and false prophets will arise at the end of the age, but they will also appear in times of great cultural transition leading up to those final days. The most dangerous attitude to have in those uncertain times is the assumptions we form that are not in...
As we live a life of faith, we can experience times when our prayers go unanswered. It can happen because we are being protected from the results of an immature prayer that can put us in a place of danger that we cannot yet see. Being out of God’s timing can also...
I once read there are four phases of development in a Church movement – Man, Movement, Monument, and Mausoleum. A group of followers will initially be formed and ignited by a person of faith. That original faith will gain momentum and become a movement. After a season...
Jan and I had just repented and reconciled after having one of those marriage “moments.” All was made right after we humbled our hearts over a small and foolish issue. Joy returned to our relationship along with a feeling of refreshment that only repentance can bring....
The vocabulary of the world is not the language of the Spirit. When followers of Jesus use over-simplified definitions to define other believers, we align ourselves with the spirit of the world and lose the distinction of our union in Christ. Labels like “Christian...
In some cases, our faith can assume a comfortable, non-confrontive posture. In that condition, a weaker faith will emerge that is unable to push through and confront the afflicting presence of evil. Only a faith that demonstrates the presence of Jesus Christ can...
Our greatest protection is not the armies of the world and their armament or how many soldiers can be summoned for war. Our greatest protection is the voice of God in a season of turmoil. God’s voice will come to those who have learned to recognize its sound. The Lord...