End Time Distractions
Sometimes I think I’m too simplistic in the way I think about my faith. I am definitely a literalist and take what the Bible says at face value. I find it fascinating that Jesus, when asked to summarize hundreds of...
Opinionated, Confused and Half Hearted
We live in an age of opinion. If you get three people in a room you’re likely to have four opinions. I find it amusing how people will even offer opinions on subjects they know nothing about. In addition I...
Rules Without Relationship
For about 13 years I was a youth pastor. I loved working with high school and junior high students. One phrase we often used with parents of adolescents was: “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion”. This was not a phrase...
Look Both Ways
When I was growing up one of the big things parents and adult figures would say to us kids was, “look both ways before crossing the street”. They engrained it in us so that we wouldn’t just “run out in...
What is Your ONE WORD for 2018?
Did you make New Year’s Resolutions this year? If you’re like most Americans, you may have already ditched those well-intentioned-but-hard-to-keep personal goals. Instead of a list of resolutions, why not focus on just ONE WORD during 2018? The “My One...
Forgetting the Wrong Things
I think most of us have a forgetful streak (some of us it’s more than a streak). And for the most part the things we forget have little consequence in what matters most. Sure we may find ourselves delayed...
People Who Help People Grow
We are created for relationship and we will not grow spiritually without other people. There is only so far we can grow on our own. Growth happens when we are the kind of people who take interest and responsibility for...
Enemies to Growth
When we want to grow spiritually there are a number of enemies that will look to stand in our way. Remember, God designed us uniquely, He wants us to grow and He wants us to be free from the sin...
Is the Bible Your Authority?
We live in a culture that has unfortunately made the Bible either on an equal level with any other piece of information or in some cases less than. However, without the Bible we are left essentially without a reliable source of authority. Even among those who believe in the Bible, many often make themselves the authority and choose to follow only the parts of the Bible that they agree with.
Shame and Guilt
In 2 Corinthians 7:10 it states, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” And for years I’ve wrestled with what this “godly grief” might be. While I’m not sure I yet have a definitive answer, I have discovered a few things about guilt and change. When I was a younger Christian (and a younger person) I remember ritualisticly ending every night with a prayer that went something like this, “…