Fresh heart for the journey
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 NIV In one of the most emotionally charged scenes in the entire Bible, we become the ‘fly on the wall’ and witness it firsthand. Joseph, now the second in command in […]
A people who live in the “not-enough-time, my-time-ran-out, if-I-can-find-the-time, isn’t-it-time-yet, where-did-the-time-go, don’t-think-I-have-time” … will always have difficulty understanding a God who operates in ‘the fullness of time.’ To us, “the fullness of time” usually denotes having enough of it. But there’s more to the issue than that. When Jesus entered this world it was ‘in […]
It is said that some marriages are made in heaven. Although poetic, it’s not true. Incubated in heaven, perhaps… but made right here on earth through: Sunlit days of hope and plans… Warm evenings of romance and intimacy… Dark nights of lonely separation… Endless loads of wash… First baby smiles and steps… Quickly grabbed […]
“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” Matthew 2:10 New Living Translation Here’s to ubiquitous joy and unquenchable peace! The hurried dash to Bethlehem to register for the census would hardly have been labeled as joyous. Not with the baby already considered illegitimate by many. And the overwhelming crowds and “No […]
Gaining Intimacy Through Prayer Most people are aware of the intimacy generated between God and themselves when and as they pray. And it’s true. There is a depth of knowledge of God and his heart that is gained when we converse with him through prayer. We develop an intimate relationship with the One we pray […]
God made Christmas available. Our sins made it necessary. That’s the reality of Christmas that few celebrate. Even Christians don’t really get around to acknowledging the ‘why’ of the Virgin Birth until Good Friday. It’s the dark side of the holidays, if you will. We prefer to wrap ourselves in the lights, the beauty […]
I can get lost in Christmas faster than you can drop and break a Christmas ornament. I lose myself in its majesty. I’m not sure how accurate a portrayal our church plays are. I suspect that the plastic baby Jesus and the eight year old wise men wearing their Dads’ safety-pinned bathrobes probably don’t do […]
There’s a strange party game popular right now. It’s called “Would You Rather” and it poses questions like: – Would you rather be rich and ugly, or poor and good looking? – Would you rather go without television or junk food for the rest of your life? – Would you rather only be able to […]
60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering Here is a question that requires more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. How much value are you assigning to this season of your ministry? I pose this question not knowing what season you may be going through right now. But a season it is. For you, the tide may […]
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 You don’t teach a young child to ride a bicycle be starting them on a unicycle. You start off with training wheels. Those bolt-on ‘balance enhancers’ aren’t the end … just the means to an end. A unicycle may be […]
I am a pastor, teacher, and encourager. I am a happy husband and leader of a family tribe now numbering 13. I am President of Fresh Heart Ministries and consider called of God to help you grow in your spiritual walk … let you know how special you are to God … and have some fun while doing so.