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

      I’m 54 years old.  I do not consider myself a senior citizen but have three grandchildren and three more on the way!  I read recently that the average life span for American men is 73 and for women is 79 (Not Too Old, David Faust, 13).  Therefore, if I am average, I have 19 years left; the sand is rapidly flowing to the bottom of my proverbial hourglass.  I appreciate the challenge of author...  Read More

      Everyone agrees that one of our greatest and deepest emotional needs is to be loved.  God as our Creator loves us passionately.  The prophet Jeremiah speaks for God saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love . . .” (Jeremiah 31:3).  The Bible is complex, but at its heart it is a love story: God’s love for us and our opportunity to love Him.  The Bible is clear that God’s primary post...  Read More

     Almost all of us worry at one time or another.  Our list might be different but most of us have some fear about our families, finances and future.  Even little things can get to us if we are not careful.  It has been said, “Worry often is a small thing that casts a big shadow.”  --Swedish Proverb  (Winning The Worry Battle, Barb Roose, 21)  We mentally play the “what if” game.  What if I lose...  Read More

      A few months ago, we did an event called Skeptics Welcome. The idea was that people could come and ask a panel of two pastors their questions about the Christian faith. One of the questions that I thought was the most challenging was “How can we say God is good when the Bible says the Lord created evil?” The writer of the question then offered the reference Isaiah 45:7. We read the King Jame...  Read More

      Recently Journey did an event that we called Skeptics Welcome.  At the event non-Christians were invited to come and ask their questions about the Christian faith.  One of the questions that was asked in various forms by those who attended was “Why should we trust the Bible?”      No one can deny that the Bible is a widely popular book.  It is the library that is the intellectual foundation ...  Read More

      Parenting is complex.  My wife and I have five children.  Our parenting has entered a new stage now that four have launched and the only one left is a fifteen-year-old.  All of our children are followers of Christ.  At this moment it looks like we have extended the baton of faith to the next generation.  So how is this done?  In contrast, the current culture is very influential.  Many who gr...  Read More

      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