Things happen in this life that you never saw coming. A phone call, a text, an email can change the trajectory of your life in a nanosecond. Life is fragile and must be held with open hands. As you navigate uncertainty and confusion, receive the pe…
The threats against Peter and John by the Sanhedrin to not speak or teach in the name of Jesus only served to embolden the growing church. Their response to cultural pushback and resistance should embolden us as well. Instead of giving up, they pra…
Courage in the face of danger, loss, and resistance speaks volumes of one's commitment to their cause. Peter and John's confidence and security unnerved the religious rulers, the Sanhedrin, as they realized Jesus may be dead and gone, but His Spirit…
Before the Maps app was on our phones, we had Garmin GPS units. I remember hearing, "Recalculating," on a regular basis. I had missed a turn somewhere and needed to be redirected back to the route. Paul experienced the same issue on one of his miss…
I'll never forget traveling through a community in the high desert of Southern California. I just knew that something wasn't right. Like Paul, my "spirit was provoked within me." I found out that several tragedies had occurred there, as though it w…
You need oxygen to live. If you can't breathe, your body will expire. It is the same with faith. If you do not exhibit the fruit of repentance, aka "works," your faith is impotent and dead. The idea of "works" being vital to your faith has been vil…
Jesus is our model for engaging the culture. Whether it was the Pharisees, a Governor, the public square, a synagogue, or the marketplace, He was fully involved in the world in which He lived. He was consumed with zeal. Somewhere along the way, per…
We tend to gravitate toward that which is more complicated. Keeping things simple and direct is a challenge for most. When it comes to Jesus' second coming, the theories and postulations abound. We do not know the time. However, we do know we are t…
When the signal came, the people bowed to the ground before the golden statue of the king, except for three young men. They did not rise to stand; they were already standing. While the rest cowered, they stood their ground. The king was furious and…
Elijah challenged the culture, aka the prophets of Baal, to a debate. The short version: when the moment came, God showed up, and fire fell from heaven and consumed Elijah's sacrifice along with the altar itself. Principle: Fire falls on sacrifice.…
In my line of work, I interact with hundreds of people, and it is apparent that many are on the verge of losing heart. To lose heart is to lose hope that things are going to turn out well. It is a profound loss of resolve. The key to cultivating an…
Culturally speaking, if ever there was a time that could be labeled uncertain, it would be now. Wars and rumors of wars abound. It is one of the strangest election years on record. The world feels more unsafe than ever. David faced equally disrupti…
We must be people who stand up for truth in our culture. However, we cannot do so unless we know the truth. The psalmist's request was that God would make known His ways, His paths, and His truth. You are called and commissioned to be salt and ligh…
The rule of law is a cherished principle that has been a foundation stone of our constitutional republic, aka the United States of America. These laws govern by creating boundaries that keep us safe, prosperous, and growing. Jesus gave us the "Keys…
Growing up in West Texas, we were accustomed to storm warnings. It's a part of the culture, and we knew in the spring, anything could happen. You learned to expect the unexpected and to respect nature's potential fury. Our family survived the May 1…
When you say, “Yes” to Jesus and experience a spiritual rebirth, the process of transformation begins. You may look the same on the outside, but God is working on the inside to change you into His image. It's a life-long quest. I repeat…
Empires rise and fall, and the social context changes. But the Church of Jesus Christ continues forward. Think of the empires that have come and gone while the Church has spread throughout the earth." - Allen Jackson Open Doors, a Christian persecu…
Recently I have heard believers say things like, “It feels like people are turning against christians. We are under attack.” I don’t know how accurate this is, but Jesus did say we would be hated because of our relation to Him. We…
Labor for the advancement of the Kingdom? Yes. Work as unto the Lord? Yes. Engage the culture and stand for biblical righteousness and justice? Absolutely. However, there comes a point where you need to come off the battle field, rest, recuperate, a…
I'm not talking about the fascinating series produced by Dallas Jenkins and his amazing cast. I'm talking about those who have said "Yes" to Jesus' invitation to, "Come, follow Me." So I may or may not be talking to you. This is the passage that Go…
We call it, "The Last Supper," and Jesus was teaching some of his most important lessons. It was like water bursting out of a fire hydrant. He knew there was much more to be said, but it was too much for them. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth…
Jesus gave himself to: 1) redeem (buy back) us from all wickedness and to 2) purify for himself a people that are his very own, and are 3) eager to do what is good. Purity and a desire to do what is right and good are natural outcomes because He ha…
Grace is not a "Get Out of Sin Free" card. Nor is it "Sloppy Agape." It is a force, and it is powerful. Years ago, I developed a working definition after an exhaustive study. Grace is God's power, strength, ability, authority, and favor to do what …
Some days it feels like a David and Goliath scenario. I'm David, and the darkness in the world is the enemy, Goliath. Maybe I've killed a bear or lion in my day, but Goliath? He's too big, too much, too overwhelming. Then I hear God say in a still s…
