The apostle Paul wrote, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).  To be joyful in hope is absolutely crucial in a dark and broken world.  Hope is simply confident expectation in God.  One doctrine that helps us live in confident expectation is God’s sovereignty.  Christians believe that God does not cause everything, but controls everything.  He has com...  Read More

     For three and a half years I worked on a suicide intervention phone line.  Six nights a week people would call me drowning in hopelessness, sometimes literally with a gun to his head or a bottle of pills in her hand.  My job was to share hope, to help people find enough hope to keep moving forward.  Hope is simply confident expectation, and it is essential.  As a Christian I believe that Jesu...  Read More

      In Romans 12 the apostle Paul shares with us how Christians should live.  First, live for God.  He tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), meaning to lay aside our own desires and follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. It has been said after our passing, most sum up someone’s life in a sentence.  What is your se...  Read More

     As New Year’s Day approaches many people spend time reflecting and deciding to make some changes in their lives.  Some write out new year’s resolutions.  And yet it seems that most people do not actually succeed with those resolutions over the long term.  So how do we change?  How do we grow? I believe God is always working in our lives to help us grow and change but we have a part to play.  ...  Read More

     Christmas is almost upon us.  This beautiful holiday dominates our December every year.  But how do we get the most out of it?  How do we prepare ourselves for it?     First, pause and reflect.  December is very busy for most people.  There can be travel or house guests, there are presents to buy and extra events to attend.  Make sure that you take a little time in these final days leading up...  Read More

      This life can be frustrating at times.  One minor example, I have called for a tow truck three times in the past two weeks.  I look around in my circles of family, friends,  and acquaintances and see health issues, conflict, financial challenges, prodigal children, stunning loss and struggling marriages.  As a result of a back injury several years ago, physical pain is a daily part of my lif...  Read More

     The Bible tells us to “fear not” 365 times but also has almost 200 verses that encourage us to “fear God” (The Awe of God, John Bevere, xv).  Clearly the Bible teaches that there is good fear and bad fear.  Bad fear is worry or anxiety on steroids.  But good fear is different.  Good fear is the fear of the Lord and it’s a virtue.  King Solomon in the Scripture wrote that the fear of the Lord ...  Read More

      My wife and I have five children, four are grown and married and now having children of their own.  One is sixteen and still with us, but the clock is ticking.  What are the keys to making an impact on the lives of your children and grandchildren?        First, generational impact is a team sport.  Our family has always been actively connected to the community.  Church is the primary vehicle...  Read More

      What has your anger cost you?  An important relationship, a job, your reputation?  In some extreme circumstances someone’s anger could even cost them their freedom because they physically hurt someone.  Even the great leader Moses lost the opportunity to enter the promised land because he acted out of anger.  I do want to acknowledge that some anger is good. We should be angry about racism, ...  Read More

       Have you ever had someone let you down?   A good friend gossip about you?  A business partner steal from you?   Faithfulness matters. Imagine sitting on the death bed of your beloved spouse of fifty years and he tells you that he has been 95% sexually faithful to you!  According to our school district that would be an A.  But somehow that does not feel like an A, does it?  Human relationshi...  Read More

      Everyone has someone they consider difficult in their life. It could be a demanding boss, overbearing parent, selfish spouse or rebellious teen.  How do we deal with these individuals?      First, embrace humility. I am embarrassed to admit that it was not until I was an adult and married with children that it even occurred to me that for some people I was that difficult person. I have a vis...  Read More

      In the Hebrew Scriptures there are hundreds of commands. Jesus was once asked what the greatest command was.  He said in essence, love God and love your neighbor.  I want to focus on the second command in the cliff note version of ethics from Jesus—loving our neighbors.  In the New Testament, we are told repeatedly to love one another.  Honestly, Christians struggle with this; I know I do.  ...  Read More