My prayer is that this blog will equip you to think through God's Word and find practical help!
Imagine having an ambition to build a beautiful house, and a costly investment to get started on the foundation… only to later get cold feet and bail without seeing the project through. What now? About 6 months ago, I posed some questions to stir a calculated decision for each one of us: 1. Is your spiritual growth worth it? 2. …
“Ancient words, ever true, Changing me, and changing you! They have come from God’s own heart! O let the ancient words impart!” A disciple of Jesus is characterized by a love and hunger for God’s Word. As Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). As Isaiah put it, the …
“Do as I say, not as I do!” Yesterday’s Father’s Day celebration may have stirred up gratitude or bitterness, treasured or sour memories, contentment or regret. Jesus tells us to be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). But we know that our earthly parents are less than perfect, and we have managed to match them in …
Do you find yourself in a cycling battle with sin? Have you found that your efforts to amputate sin in your life are met with rapid regrowth and recurrence of that sin? Do you find yourself crying out, O wretched man that I am! Is victory over your sin apparently in reach, but practically elusive? “I do what I do …
In God’s amazing, deep riches of wisdom and unfathomable ways, He uses the persecution of His people to promote the gospel rather than hinder it! It seems counterintuitive; yet, attempts to silence Jesus’ disciples with ridicule, hatred, and even violence has the effect of throwing fuel on a fire, instead igniting an unstoppable movement for the good news! The gospel …
Have you heard of the butterfly effect? In 1972, mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz asked the question: “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” From this question arose the concept of the butterfly effect; that is, that a tiny change can have a massive impact somewhere else. Despite one’s conclusions about the …
We have just completed our series on anxiety and depression at Grace Baptist Church! My hope and prayer has been that our time reflecting on and wrestling with these emotions together would help each of us to examine our circumstances and emotions, realize we are not alone, and begin to see the magnitude of help that God offers in His …
What’s the first thought, feeling, or reaction that comes to you when it comes to the possibility of confronting somebody with the gospel? I think many of us would quickly feel intimidated! If someone wants to ask how to have eternal life or the way to heaven, we might be eager to answer… but to approach someone to tell them …
I have been moved to joyful gratitude over and over as it has continually impressed upon me what a precious gift God has given to me. This gift works quietly and behind the scenes to help me be a better person and pastor and to help me do better in life and ministry. I love this gift that God has …
“Then Jesus bowed his head and died.” My son gasped. Each night we read to our children from our children’s Bible, and the timing has been great! We worked through the last days of Jesus’ life just in time for Easter to come. We want our children to know the real message of Easter – not bunnies and eggs and chocolate. …
