Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4 I love a good story. In fact, I have never really met anyone who does not like hearing or telling a good story.... Continue Reading →

Many who lived during and listened to Jesus’s public ministry found his sayings hard to accept. In many instances, those today who read his sayings or hear them read also find much of what he said difficult to accept. The authors of Hard Sayings of the Bible rightly describe many today, saying: It is all... Continue Reading →

One of the most strikingly modern stories in all of Scripture is the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. Though told two thousand years ago, it speaks directly to today’s world of racism, injustice, bullying, poverty, inequality, and deep social division. At the center of these issues lies a question about love—who deserves... Continue Reading →

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before... Continue Reading →

I remember the day we met our 2-year-old daughter for the first time as if it were yesterday. Cathy and I had traveled to Ethiopia the weekend of Thanksgiving over nine years ago to adopt our daughter. We knew her name and had seen pictures and even videos of her. She stole our hearts. She... Continue Reading →

If we’re being honest: from good intentions to strategy Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com If we’re being honest, most of us in church leadership know the Great Commission matters, but we don’t always slow down enough to clearly define how we’re actually going to live it out together. Without that clarity, even our... Continue Reading →

The season between Thanksgiving and Christmas always feels a little unusual. We move from family gatherings and celebrations straight into the Christmas season—year-end events, reports, and all the things that demand our attention before the calendar turns.And then comes the question I’m often asked: “What do you want for Christmas this year?”My answer? Honestly, there’s... Continue Reading →

It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:32 My brothers and I were fans of comic books growing up. I was always much more inclined to the tv shows or movies depicting the comics, but my brothers collected comics,... Continue Reading →

(IMB photo, church gathers outside in South Africa) Several years ago, I was on a short-term mission in Africa.  While gathering with a local church in an outdoor courtyard, amongst the scavenging chickens, the service started as a church leader began to “play” and sing to open our time together.  To our team’s surprise, he... Continue Reading →

I remember growing up and going to school. In grade school, we had one teacher all year. Then came junior high and high school, where we changed classes every hour. After high school, I transitioned to college—each classroom was different, with a variety of teachers, subjects, styles, and experiences.I also remember many of my Sunday... Continue Reading →