I run into very few men who memorize scripture anymore. It’s just a whole lot easier to open your phone and find whatever verse you need. Here’s the problem with that idea; you and I don’t always know what wisdom from God we need as we move through life. So consider storing some up this year! Downloading Wisdom Information technology people have a saying, “Garbage in – Garbage out”. That means you can’t expect good results from bad information, or input. The inverse is also

The following is a blog I edited slightly, by Amy Hauptman. I thought it was an important reminder in a culture of “us versus them.” Let her counsel seep into your bones this Christmas week. Jesus did not come for Christmas pageants, Christmas trees, or cookies. And he didn’t come for Advent wreaths, live camels, gingerbread houses, or Christmas light shows in sync with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Jesus’ Mission Statement : Jesus told us exactly why he came He came into th

My wife and I were out to dinner a few years ago and we were discussing how and why I blog. Specifically, how I come up with the topics for my blogs. Without trying to appear overly spiritual, I think the Holy Spirit gives me those topics. As I’m reading scripture, or listening to a sermon, or even watching the news. I often get this impression “that’s an idea you should think about more deeply.” But irony is that often I’m not always sure what I believe about each topic, or

My church has two primary ways for dealing with members who have had a moral default- a serious sin. (Adultry, lawsuits against another member, an unbiblical divorce, abuse, swindling, teaching heretical things, sowing discord between members, etc) We first investigate then meet with a member to tell them what has been reported and discovered to give them a chance to explain, or refute the allegations. From there it generally goes one of two ways; A. They deny the allegatio

A decade ago I received a call from a local pastor I knew about his 25 year old daughter. “Clare, Jane (not her real name) just told us she’s not sure she believes everything we believe the Bible teaches. Which of course makes us sad and afraid for her salvation. Any ideas? So, a week later we’re all sitting together at a coffee shop. I’d never met Jane so I began as I usually do with asking her to take 15-20 minutes to share a bit about her life and dreams and of course her

There are two topics most people agree you should never talk about at large family gatherings, Religion and Politics. Generally that’s good advice. If I had a brother who was not a Christian, trying to convince him otherwise at a Thanksgiving dinner would be unwise because he’d be forced to defend his position once again to everyone present and probably be angry at me for putting him on the spot. Those conversations are best done thoughtfully after much prayer one on one. But

If everything belongs to God then we have a spiritual obligation to give his resources wisely. And one of the best ways I’ve discovered to begin giving more wisely is to put on paper how God seems to be directing you to give. This includes both the kinds of ministries God wants you to support as well as those you sense he doesn’t want you to be engaged in. Very few people can be knowledgeable or thoughtful enough about many different ministries to be a truly informed donor.

Decades ago a man I deeply admire asked this penetrating question of me, “Is there anyone right now praising God for you because without your advocacy for them they would be hopeless?” My mind instantly swung into justification mode, and I began adding up the money I’d given and boards on which I’d served that assist the poor in some way. But, that wasn’t what he was asking. What he was getting at is this, “Are you personally engaged in the life of a person who is powerless o

With Thanksgiving coming up some of the “prodigals” in your life may be coming home soon. Many of us have teenage, or adult children, or grandchildren who say they are Christians but appear us to be apathetic and luke-warm about following him. We’ve asked them about attending church, or some Christian concert, or other event with us and there’s just no interest, or if they do it’s more out of respect than enthusiasm. I’ve been praying deeply for wisdom how to breakthrough to