Fight Back Against False Teachers — Forgeries and Fakes
“It’s fake.” Whether the forgery is artwork or false teaching, the loss is costly and real. Have you heard an Antiques Roadshow appraiser deliver this devastating news to someone who believes he or she owns a veritable treasure? “It’s fake.” Discovering that a priceless possession is really a worthless counterfeit must be heartbreaking. Appraisers aren’t […]
Advance The Kingdom With A Bigger Message
The biggest idea in the world is the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it’s often shared as if it’s easy for anyone to understand. It is simple, but that isn’t necessarily the same thing as easy. Since the time you answered the Holy Spirit’s invitation, has your message gotten bigger or smaller? When you share […]
Getting Older? The Joy of Trading Power for Freedom
My twenty-year old tobacco-colored gelding, Ace, stood quietly while I lumbered up onto a one-step stool carrying the stock saddle I intended to pitch onto his back. Eight out of ten times he steps backwards as soon as I get into launch position, but this day, he was a rock. Which I especially appreciated as […]
Seeing God—What It Means to Be Pure in Heart
Some people don’t want to see God because they don’t believe He exists. Curiously, the people who are most passionate about not believing are the same ones who harbor the greatest doubts. The rest of us eagerly await the moment when we shall behold Him. One day we’ll meet face-to-face, but for most of us […]
7 Reasons Why God Doesn’t Say “Yes” When You Ask
How often does God give you what you ask for? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that coincidences don’t exist and that it’s possible to improve the odds of getting a “Yes” when you ask God for something. On the walking trail this morning I mentioned something I would like and God […]
Intimacy with God–The Power of Small Gestures
What’s your personal sign from God? A cloud formation, a song that comes on the radio while you’re praying for guidance, a dragonfly, or a glorious rainbow when it isn’t raining? Mine is red cardinals. We most cherish the intimate things of God in our relationship with Him. Intimacy is impossible without familiarity and connection. […]
Preaching Without Words
Everyone preaches the gospel that lives in their hearts. If your heart sings in the key of grace, your words and actions ring with kindness, mercy, benevolence, and forgiveness. When preaching anything, the loudest testimony is behavior, not sophisticated vocabulary or passionate debate. Hearts wrapped in the guidance and grace of the Holy Spirit preach […]
Two Births of Immanuel, God with Us
The birth of Jesus fulfilled the gift of Immanuel (Emmanuel), God with us, since that was His name (Matthew 1:23). While considering the great gift of our Savior this Christmas morning, I realized that “God with us” isn’t just a name, it’s an inheritance, a potential, and my reality. The first birth of Immanuel was […]