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2020 Plan(ting) for a Breakthrough
In the previous article 2020 Vision for a Breakthrough (1) when King David was in a crisis situation he called on God in prayer and was immediately delivered from his enemies twice by God the Lord of the Breakthrough! Consequently, reading this story your faith was stirred and you called upon God in prayer (1) to deliver you from your serious situation. However, it seems as if God did not respond immediately to your crisis situation. Why King David and not me? I am glad you asked!
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Seeking Happiness — Finding Joy
Picture in your mind one of the most enjoyable walks you have ever taken. What made it so enjoyable? Was it the location? Was it the weather or the time of day? Or, was it the one who was walking beside you? Throughout the Bible, our lives are referred to as a “walk” although some days you may feel like yours is a sprint. Am I right? Though you may feel like you are sprinting, your whole life experience is considered a walk. And, those who place their faith in Christ are living a “faith walk.” But, here’s the catch: a lifetime faith walk must be walked daily. Choices are made…
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Iron Sharpens Iron
Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” In reflection on our many years in ministry, I am drawn to the truth of this proverb. I have seen it play out in my own life more times than I can remember. We usually think of ministry as investing our lives through serving others, as we hopefully “sharpen” them through discipleship, worship and community. However, I have recently given some thought as to how often others have sharpened me in the past, when I didn’t even realize it. What does this proverb mean, exactly? Most commentators see it as a statement of how people affect, or influence, one…
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How Can I Make God Answer My Prayers My Way?
How can I get God to give me what I want? That’s often at the root of our interest in prayer. If we’re honest, that’s the question we want answered when we read books on prayer, listen to a message or podcast on prayer, or talk to people known as prayer warriors.
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Harry and Meghan Step Back from “Privilege,” Should we feel guilty too?
“Royal No More,” blared the headlines this weekend as Queen Elizabeth settled Prince Harry and Meghan’s appeal to become part-time royals with part time duties representing the crown. “No,” she replied. On Saturday she revoked their titles of HRH—his and her royal highness—and declared they will no longer represent her or the crown. This came as a shock to Prince Harry who on Saturday described himself as “extremely sad” that a compromise could not be reached. More than any other members of the royal family, Harry and Meghan appear to be very ambivalent about the whole concept of “privilege,” so much so that they named their child Archie Harrison (Harry’s…
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When is Good Enough… Good Enough?
Imagine that the Christian life is like learning to walk on a balance beam. The Gospel helps us to mount and stand on His promises. Staying in balance is only possible because of Jesus. Colossians 1:27 Fall to the right and be immersed in a sinful endeavor to be good, to keep all the law of Moses. Striving for perfection and trusting in the ability to get it right. It is legalism, faking it until you feel you are making it. Working harder, self-righteousness, arrogance, pride, and delusions of glory. Here, ideas of being good guide us and our self-righteousness rules us. Fall to the left, and struggle with blatant…
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Nomen Est Omen
There is an old Latin saying, “nomen est omen” which means “name is an omen.” At times, the Bible refers to omens and divination positively or without condemnation (Leviticus 16:8-10. Acts 1:26); at other times, such practices are depicted negatively (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). (2) However, what is meant by “omen” in the saying, and this article, is that a person’s name is a “sign” of who a person is in their true identity.
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“Grrrr”-umbling or Trusting?
Lessons from the OT book of Exodus. Children have a hard time processing time. They invariably ask “When? or Are we there yet?” They are not unique. Take the life of Moses and the Israelites from Exodus. Waiting is harder than hard. When we ask children to do a task they often respond just like Moses (and us if we are frank.) God calls us to His work and we say: I can’t, I can’t. I can’t! Moses said: I can’t speak eloquently; send someone else or why me? God wanted Moses to trust He would equip him but no amount of persuading make him say ok. For Moses, God…
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Self-Care for the Whole Person
“Read your Bible and pray more,” I heard over and over again growing up in the church. And I did. It helped fill my mind with truth and connect me with God. But it didn’t stop me from becoming depressed during my senior year of college. When my doctor diagnosed me with depression, I first thought, “No way. Not me. Christians don’t get depressed.” As if she could read my thoughts, my doctor, who knew I called myself a Christian, said, “Depression doesn’t mean you don’t pray enough or love God enough. Depression involves physical, chemical imbalances in the brain, and it commonly creeps up in busy, stressful periods of…
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New Year’s Resolutions and The Slow Process of Change
I have a love-hate relationship with New Year’s Resolutions. On the one hand, I’m enamored by the idea of a fresh start and a clean slate every time that big, jeweled ball drops in Times Square. Reflecting on the past and looking to the future with anticipation and hope – who wouldn’t enjoy that euphoric sense of optimism? And yet – I’ve been around the block for enough countdowns to know that, though I may have my sights set on a handful of goals in the new year, life has a tendency to distract me from those ideals, often before Ryan Seacrest wishes us all goodnight. Apparently I’m not alone.…
