“Don’t be afraid,” it is an easy thing to say, but how do you conquer the fear welling up inside you? What do you do when life brings circumstances that shake your world? Is there something you can do that is more than wishing you were not afraid? The answer is, undeniably, “Yes!” The first step to overcoming fear in our lives is to recognize […]
Yesterday, I gave a presentation to the pastors of the District on ways to use technology to move the church’s ministry beyond its walls and even to the uttermost parts of the earth. The program went well and the discussion that followed was very encouraging. We even decided to offer three more follow-up seminars to help with the implementation of some of the methods we […]
I want to thank all of you for your patience. There are times when life moves at high speed and before you know it a week or more passes. I appreciate the grace afforded me when these times occur. A number of things occurred recently that consumed a significant amount of time and attention. I am sorry for the distractions and for the break in […]
What does God want for Christmas? It may sound like a strange question, but it may be the most important one we answer in this season. As we approach the holiday, many of us are scurrying to make all of the necessary preparations for our family and friends. There is food to buy, decorations to find and hang, and, of course, presents to buy. In […]
What happened to civility? I know we are overburdened and rushed for time. I understand that we are working to make ends meet and worried about the current economic forecast. I recognize that we have opinions and passions, but when did it become acceptable to subjugate the way we respect and treat others in order to make ourselves and our agenda the only thing that matters. […]
Have you ever stumbled upon a quote, a scripture, a hymn or prayer that suddenly exploded with significance to you? It is amazing how amid all of the words and images of each day, something of deep meaning can break through. It is one thing to find those treasures while on retreat or in a time of intense reflection. It is something even more amazing […]
Bob pierce, founder of World Vision, once said, “One man cannot do it all, but one man with a lifetime can be enough of an example to have someone follow in his footsteps.” We have the opportunity to the impact our communities and to consider what we are leaving behind us. Many others will inherit the results of our decisions and ministry efforts, just as we […]
At 211 degrees, water is simply very hot. Add one more degree and it becomes powerful enough to drive engines and produce electricity. When it reaches its boiling point, a world of potential energy is released and the results of that energy can be quite impressive. Our Christian life can be viewed in a similar way. We can live our lives with Christ just below […]
Fall is a statement of God’s beautiful creativity. Every year in our region, we see the wonder of creation displayed in the vibrant color of autumn leaves, in amazing skies, and in harvest moons. The rich smells of harvest foods, firewood burning and even those colorful leaves returning to compost, awaken our senses to the beauty around us. It is easy to take such things […]
Yesterday, we went to a new restaurant for dinner. It was recommended to us by a native of the area with the promise of good food and, “a little bit of everything.” Since we were using our vacation time to explore places in our area, we decided to give it a try. The menu was just as diverse as the young man promised. The food, […]