Blog
In the late 70s, my life had begun to break apart piece by piece. I had invited Jesus into my heart as a young boy and loved Him, but by the end of my first year in college, I did not follow Him. Deep within me, I still had a desire to love God, but my rebellion...
Who presumes the privilege of being close to the Lord—living next to Him in His shining place of glory? Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit? Who will never be shaken—who will stand firm forever? King David answered that question in Psalm...
Jan and I have been listening to some rare, old, forgotten hymns called Appalachian Soul Hymns, and both our spirits and souls have been touched. We noticed so many of the words point to Heaven. While watering the garden at 6 am this morning, I heard these sounds...
I’ve never wanted to be prideful. Yet, I laugh because even that desire hides a point of pride. In fact, I’m full of it! And I am grateful when the Lord points out all the many facets. Here is a big one. I never want to be or appear to be weak. I’m the protector of my...
I’ve been thinking of new ways to appreciate, expect, and desire the Holy Spirit’s warnings and corrections. I’m well aware of how easy it is to try to escape the discomfort it brings. I have been praying for years to have and keep a teachable heart. In 1980, at a...
This morning, I turned on some quiet instrumental worship music. I listened and waited. Then I was impressed to say, “Lord, I love you above all things.” I began reciting a list of people and situations. I love you above my family and friends. I love you above the...
The Old Covenant ended, and the New Covenant began with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Rather than a repeated yearly ritual, reconciliation on this side of the cross is a finished work we receive. God’s mercy seat isn’t in a tabernacle. The mercy...
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). On the other hand, those who do not know God are blind and deaf because they are not alive spiritually. Paul described it as a veil...
Of late, I have seen well-rehearsed heresy hunters broadcasting their evidence on social media. It’s nothing new in Church history. At times, it can resemble a public burning at the stake for the offenders. A few days ago, I wrote about a house church in Corinth that...
When I was a young pastor, another pastor more experienced than I told me that one of the most concise representations of our faith is found in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians. The importance of Christ’s resurrection is mentioned at great length in these verses. Paul...
When I read Paul’s description of the Corinthian church, it’s similar to what we see in the Western church today. The Corinthians boasted about their spirituality, but lacked a demonstration of what it meant to be consecrated—set apart to God. The leadership had...
I got saved when I was 8 years old. But it wasn’t until age 29 that I allowed Jesus to become my Lord. I knew that to be saved was a complete work, but it also meant I had entered a process of being saved from the things that stood in the way of my knowing...
As another Easter comes and goes, and they seem to roll by faster as we grow older, I have felt an increasing receptivity to God’s love. His love was demonstrated for all eternity by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The power of that love was mightier than any earthly...
Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah: “As the Scriptures say, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.’ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of...
Thirty years ago, Jan and I began to pray over our remaining time on Earth. We have prayed that we would end this life having remained faithful to the Lord and to each other. Our hearts greatest desire is that we would finish well. We want to live without bringing...