Fresh heart for the journey
In 2005 country singer Carrie Underwood released the song “Jesus Take The Wheel.” It was the story of a young mother going through difficult times and her Christmas Eve drive to Cincinnati with her baby asleep in its car seat. As she hits black ice and loses control of the car, she releases the […]
When Jesus was looking for answers that weren’t available, He didn’t cry “Uncle.” – He cried “Father!” “Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” Matthew 11:25 New Living Translation […]
It’s the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and we’re down by two points. We’ve moved the ball down the field with skill and determination. Hope is soaring; the expectation of a ‘come-from-behind win’ is palpable. It’s ‘gasp or go’ time. On fourth and long a sideline pass to the tight end is caught […]
60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering What can a leader do to turn frightened and disoriented people into a confident, spiritually aggressive and faith-filled army? King Jehoshaphat of II Chronicles fame can provide us with some answers. It’s tough to be a God follower when the God haters are out to get you. Many […]
“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God …” JOHN 13:3 New Living Translation Give some people a little power and it instantly reveals the person they are on the inside. Power corrupts, we’re told, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it doesn’t […]
The wily old monarch of the Old Testament – Nebechudnezzar – had a dream one night that scared him so badly that although he couldn’t remember the dream, the horror of it wouldn’t let go of him. He had to know what he had dreamt and what it meant to his kingdom. Summoning his […]
It’s amazing how much teaching Jesus did through his use of questions. He would give a pop quiz and depending on how you answered the question, you learned something in the process. One such revealing quiz takes place in John 6 when Jesus and his disciples play host to 5,000 spiritually hungry men, […]
60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering As a pastor, the crowds can make us or break us. They shouldn’t have the power to do either. We’ve all been beaten down by negative comments … wrongly encouraged to morph into someone or something we weren’t called or equipped to be … made to be […]
Last week’s Nascar race was won by a 101 to 1 underdog. He wasn’t supposed to win … but he did. In the 1980 Olympics a motley group of amateur and college hockey players were pitted against an elite group of Soviet professionals. There was no way they were to even be competitive, […]
A professor stood before a roomful of the brightest and best. All were high intensity, success-at-any-cost, go full out until you get what you are going after kinds of students. He held up a large glass jar and proceeded to fill it to the top with large rocks. “Is this jar filled?” he asked. The […]
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.