"Watch your life and doctrine closely"
The pumpkin in the middle of our dinner table has been replaced with Advent candles. A well-lit tree takes up part of our living room and the Amazon delivery guy is a frequent visitor. We have officially entered the Christmas season. A Different Year Every year we are told this is “the most wonderful time…
As I finished the sermon, I closed my bible, prayed, and then walked over and stood at the head of the casket. Row by row, the ushers guided people from their seats to the front of the room and out the door. My sister was one of the last ones in the room; she leaned…
My heart pounded and felt like it was pumping acid through my veins. My legs screamed for me to stop, but I couldn’t. There was still another mile to go in the 5k and I knew I had to finish strong. I had my goal pace in mind and had trained diligently over the past…
It was his first major battle as the new leader. He would have to stand before the people and tell them the plan. Filling Moses’ shoes as the leader of Israel would be a difficult task for anyone, and Joshua was about to face a major test. How would he lead the people to defeat…
Narcissism isn’t a new issue, but I’m often overwhelmed by how prevalent it is. It seems to be tolerated, perhaps at times celebrated, even among self-proclaimed Christians. Pragmatism rules the day so that if someone “gets the job done” then we’ll turn a blind eye to their narcissistic ways. I recently listened to a podcast…
It happens every four years. The rhetoric ramps up, tensions flare, and people vouch for their candidate as two opposing political parties battle for the highest office in the land. Each side presents their promises while also painting a picture of the apocalyptic downfall that will occur if the other side wins. The Importance and…
I long to be a patient father who always shows kindness towards his children and responds to every inquisition with grace and long-suffering. The Spirit is helping me, but at times my flesh responds to onslaughts of random questions with noticeable frustration. Sometimes my children ask for help at the most inconvenient times and my…
My mother-in-law, Lorraine, sits in the sunroom every morning and drinks her coffee with toast. From her blue recliner she can see the small pond in the back with the two white egrets who regularly perch on the dock. She laughs as the rooster crows then boastfully struts along trying to impress the hens (who…
As I walked down the aisle trying to find the next item on my grocery list, I saw a familiar face. He recognized me at the exact same moment and we both smiled and walked toward one another with excitement. As I approached, I instinctively started to put out my right hand to greet him…
Can Satan stop God’s church? No. Can evil stop God’s church? No. Can an evil dictator or communist government? No. Can the action of unbelievers? No. Can the immorality of a nation? No. Can unjust or immoral laws? No. Can government overreach? No. Can a pandemic? No. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and…