Shifting to an Eternal Perspective When I was a child, I often heard older people speak of heaven with a sense of familiarity. I marveled that they could talk of a place they had never seen, yet speak with such joy and intimacy. I came to realize their growing desire...
Apparent Contradictions Have you noticed how often God appears to be a God of apparent contradictions? Think about it . . . He is Yahweh, the God of the universe who is the self-sufficient “I AM” (Genesis 3:14). Yet He revealed this name to Moses for the...
Handling Disappointment The year 2020 started with such potential. New year. New possibilities. To say it has been a disappointment is an understatement! Many of us are battered and bruised by canceled plans, health issues, financial pressures, isolation, and...
Whatever Happened to Empathy? I never thought of myself as especially empathetic. Yet even I am dismayed at the lack of empathy exhibited in our culture, on the news, and especially on social media. Empathy has been defined as the ability to understand and feel...
Anniversary Reaction I may forget where I placed my eyeglasses (and yes, it’s possible they’re on my head). I may forget what I ate for breakfast (but I probably didn’t forget to eat!). And I may forget your birthday (even though it’s written on my calendar)....
What’s the Purpose of Freedom? “Land of the free and home of the brave.” We sing it as part of our national anthem. We’re free! But what does that actually mean? Just how free are we? We have freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly. We’re free to bear...
Find and Do the Next Right Thing I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Peter. Peter: the impulsive, well-meaning disciple who wanted to do the right thing. Unfortunately, his propensity for putting his foot in his mouth often got in the way. I know...
Grace Givers I’ve been thinking lately about stewardship. That’s not a word we hear very often anymore. It’s one of those words that seems to have fallen out of favor. Most people haven’t noticed. But maybe we should notice. A steward is someone who has the...
Be the Change Our world is changing at breakneck speed. And most, if not all of us, have been affected in ways large and small. Isolation due to a pandemic. Raw emotions in response to the ugliness of racism. Predictions of murder hornets, cicada...
Colorblind sin Sin is ugly. Horrific. Heartbreaking. And colorblind. It’s not white. It’s not black. The murder of George Floyd by an abusive authority figure is sin. Ugly, gruesome sin. The perpetrator—as well as those who stood by and watched—must be charged,...
God Knows Your Name Have you ever felt the urge to hide? Maybe you messed up so badly that you didn’t want...
Greater Than Obstacles, Time, and Timing Nothing is impossible with God. Yes! All things are possible...
The Encouragement of an Encouraging Word Our Western civilization is becoming less and less civil by the day....