Are there good reasons to believe in God?  I think the answer is a clear yes and want to use the word C.L.E.A.R. to give a few reasons on why I believe in the existence of God. I acknowledge that there are thick, academic books written on this subject; I just want to get you to begin thinking about this fundamental question. C. THE EXISTENCE OF THE COSMOS SAYS YES      From the ancient Greek...  Read More

      Moms naturally give a great deal to their children.  When I consider the moms I have been privileged to have in my life, I have learned so much from them.   I think all of us have gleaned much from the mothers among us.        First, my mom taught me I was loved. Author and medical doctor Curt Thompson once said, “Everyone comes into the world as a baby looking for someone looking for them.”...  Read More

     Over the years I have done hundreds of individual spiritual plans with people.  One of the questions I often ask in that process is “If you could ask God anything and you knew He would answer, what would you ask?” The number one answer is some variation on the question “Why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?”  Typically, the person puts a personal focus on it such as “Why did I...  Read More

     Everyone wants to be happy; we all want to have lives filled with joy.  Yet so many Americans do not experience happiness.  How do we live with a deep, profound sense of joy?      First, connect with Jesus Christ.  French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascall once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God...  Read More

       Around the world today millions will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  One of the most basic and important Christian beliefs is that Jesus predicted his own death, died on a cross and rose from the dead.  We believe the evidence for this conviction is strong:  the fact of the empty tomb, the eyewitness testimony of hundreds of people and the transformation of the discouraged, dep...  Read More

      In all four gospels we are told the story of Jesus miraculously feeding the 5,000.  In actuality, since they only counted the men, the crowd could easily have been as high as 15,000 to 20,000.  Jesus asked the apostle who grew up nearby where they could buy food for everyone.  This question was to test him.  Philip did not respond with faith but with a practical answer that did not factor in...  Read More

     Each of us has been designed by God to make a contribution.  A key part of human flourishing is living out God’s purposes in our lives.  Every Christian is called to love God, love others, and make disciples of all nations, all three combining to bring God glory with our lives.  But how that plays out is very individual.  A public school teacher walks that out differently than a politician or...  Read More

      In so many places we are required to prove our identity.  If I travel to another country, I’d better have a passport showing who I am.  If I vote in Alaska, I have to show my driver’s license.  If I go to my bank to withdraw money from my account, I need to have ID with me.  Over a third of humanity claim to be followers of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Millions more view him as a social...  Read More

       Several years ago Bridger Walker, age 6, and his 4 year old sister were playing at a friend’s house in Wyoming when a German Shepherd attacked them.  Bridger jumped in front of his sister and yelled for her to run as he fought and was mauled by the dog.  She was not injured.  He received 90 stitches for the injuries, mostly to his face. He later told someone, “If someone had to die, I thoug...  Read More

     John Maxwell once said, “everything rises or falls on leadership” (Leadershift, 12).  I think you can see this truth whether you are working in a business, non-profit, union or school.  But what are some keys to compelling leadership?  How can we lead effectively?     Follow first.  The best leaders are followers first.  They learn to lead by picking excellent leaders to learn from.  As a Chr...  Read More

      As the new year has begun millions spend time striving to pivot to a better life.  For many 2023 was a tough year and they hope 2024 will be different.  I have been reading Ezekiel lately.  Much of the book is dark, even strange.  So dark that some rabbis said no one should read the book unless they were thirty years old.  Ezekiel wrote at a devasting time in the history of Israel.  Most of ...  Read More

      Jesus has many names or titles.  Author Warren Wiersbe says that “every name he bears is a blessing he shares.”  One of my favorite names of Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”  We see this name given to Jesus prophetically in Isaiah 7:14 and then affirmed in the New Testament (Matthew 1:23).  What are some of the blessings being given to us in the name of Emmanuel?        First, w...  Read More