All Blog Posts (1,324)

Whatever we’re afraid of, whatever we worry about, even death—the worst thing we think can happen, will not end our relationship with God.

 …

What do you do when you have to wait a long time for something to happen? With the quarantine over Covid19 many of us are finding more time on our hands than ever before. Waiting can be difficult, almost painful. Many years ago, I served as a student summer missionary in Uganda. Possibly the most striking difference between the East African culture and the one I grew up in, was that people had little concept of hurry. I used to joke that I sometimes needed to get…

Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw his unfailing love from me. PSALM 66:20 NLT

I have not rejected your prayer—I have responded to you.

    …

Recently I passed through Buffalo, Texas and wondered. Have you ever reflected on an early life decision and wondered how things might have gone had you made a different decision? I was in my final semester of my first seminary degree and serving as pastor of my second church, when two choices presented themselves to me. I could move to a larger, full-time pastorate in Buffalo, Texas or I could begin collegiate ministry at…

Rembrandt -  Jesus Calming the Storm

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you. 

Joshua 1:9 NLT…

This stay-home season is, for many of us grandparents, a time of extra stress. What food and supplies will we need in coming weeks? Where can we find those supplies? How will we pay for whatever we store up? How are we handling our loneliness? How far should we go in protecting ourselves from exposure to COVID-19?  How vulnerable are we personally, since seniors are less resistant to COVID-19 than our children and grandchildren?…

Golden Sunrise

From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.

Psalm 65:8b NLT

Prayer is your highest expectation.

    …

Churches are closed! Groups limited to no more than 10! What are we to do?

This morning I gathered with a group of six (including myself). We talked about this very thing. When Church doors close, as they have during this emergency, what are the parishioners to do?

1) Some will put their Bibles on the shelf and turn to watch Netflix/Pureflix/Disney+.

2) Some will watch pod-casts and other visual materials acting like shut-ins.

3) Some will worry and say, "I don't want to…

Selah is not translated in our English Bibles. We just have the transliteration of the Hebrew word. But if you follow its usage, you can get a good grip on its meaning. It is used at the end of each stanza of Psalm 46. I have italicized it for you.

Beautiful Temple

Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.

Psalm 62:11, 12 NLT

            No force in the universe is more powerful than the Most High. Artificial light…

This Week’s Question: Since too many have a romanticized view of love, what is love from a Biblical perspective?

Love is one of the three foundational pillars that Christianity is built upon, with faith and hope being the other two pillars. Unfortunately, many claim to be Christians based solely upon their love for God. Nevertheless, from a Biblical perspective these pillars work synchronously and cannot be dichotomized. To be more explicit, true faith is dependent…

Crown Point at Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,

when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2…

We seldom use the word behold in common speech. But it is a crucial word in Scripture and an essential concept for our spiritual lives. I could have posted this on my thinking in the Spirit blog, but particularly because of the passage I have chosen, I…

Galilee Sunrise

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you.

Psalm 55:22 THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE

     I am infinitely superior to all the idols the world worships. False…

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Psalm 54:4 NIV

     The most critical decision you need to make is to trust Me. Take My invitation and challenge personally—make the Almighty God your help, and I promise to hold…

(Adapted from HOPE, The Anchor of The Soul)

The Anchor of Perspective

Understanding that Jesus really rose from the dead has transformed the lives of people who have followed Him down through the ages. They could minister in the midst of plagues at the risk of their lives. They gladly died to help their neighbors, and loved ones, and people they didn’t even know. They were willing to stand for the Bible and the truth of the gospel even…

God looks down from heaven on the entire human race;

to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God.

Psalm 53:2 NLT

    …

A frequent question that follows an unwise action is, “What were you thinking?” It usually implies that had you been thinking properly, you would not have done what you did. An early example for me was watching my buddies smoke grapevine stems. Thinking I might enjoy that also, I lit up and inhaled, only to get a mouth full of ants. “What were you thinking?” Much later in life, I decided I was strong enough to carry heavy luggage all over Germany during a sabbatical leave. That thought…

Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:9-10 NLT…

There is a TV insurance commercial that says, "Only pay for what you need."

The problem with that is that for what I only need, there is no way I could pay.