Every year we’re given the opportunity to start afresh on January 1st. We’re afforded the ability to make resolutions and to do things differently in the new year. Most of the time those resolutions are to lose weight or to get in shape or to quit something – generally, the resolution is focused on improving our own life. While those are...
I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard the story of Jesus’ birth more times than I count. I’ve experienced it through dramas, songs, Hallmark cards, Veggie Tales, Sock Puppets – you name it and I’ve probably witnessed it – and I’m sure you have to. I’m not against any of that. In fact, I’m strongly for it. I believe that if...
As a child, I regularly roamed the woods surrounding my house. It wasn’t uncommon for me to walk up to the front door with mud on my shirt, grass stains on my jeans, and dirt caked to the bottom of my shoes. While I’m sure it wasn’t my mom’s desire that I always come home and create an avalanche of dirty laundry for her to do, she never...
Thanksgiving is, of course, about giving thanks – but have you ever thought about the concept of giving thanks? I’m sure you have given thanks on countless occasions and you realize it is important, but have you ever wondered why it’s important? Not long ago I was reading my Bible and came across some scripture that stopped me dead in my...
Over the past few years I’ve had several discussions with several different people about defeating sin and my only answer to that is a simple one – “fall in love with Jesus”. That may sound too simple to some, but I believe it to be the truth. I’m afraid that we may be missing the point if all our effort is focused on...
Over the past few years that I have been married to my wife I have learned several things that have been beneficial, but one thing in particular has proved by far to be the most powerful. What I’ve learned doesn’t involve exotic vacations, improving sexual performance, or anything else that you might have seen or heard in a magazine or...
Hope isn’t so easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things to wrap yourself around sometimes. There isn’t anything easy about staring straight into the face of despair and choosing hope. In my opinion, real hope is about a God empowered confidence – a deep trust and belief in the power of His ability and His Word in your life. This...
If you have watched the news or read the headlines in the last few weeks you have probably heard about the outbreak of the Ebola disease. Every major network is airing around-the-clock coverage and every detail is being broadcast concerning the sickness. Unfortunately, this disease is also creating widespread panic. As our TVs and phone screens...
In just the past few weeks I’ve witnessed two separate instances where someone I’m close to has been harassed for the way they have voiced or represented their belief in Jesus. You would probably assume that the harassment came from narrow-minded, opinionated agnostics. Or maybe from a different faith… but it didn’t. The accusations...
We all know the Lord’s Prayer. It’s that short speech that was always mumbled under your breath right before you took the field. Essentially, it’s the “go-to” pre-game prayer. To be completely honest, I didn’t realize that the Lord’s Prayer was actually a portion of scripture until I was about 20 years old (that’s bad I know). I...
