It was a beautiful day at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL. The fragrance of hundreds of colorful flowers, the warm sunshine, and the smiles on the faces of children all combined for a wonderful experience. But, on May 12, 2002, little did a twenty-one year old Busch Gardens employee suspect her life was about to … Continue reading Take Heed, Lest You Fall
I Fought a Demon Friday
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Pilgrim, on his new Christian adventure finds himself in a dark valley where there lives a … Continue reading I Fought a Demon Friday
When Facts Don’t Matter
In a post-Christian/post-modern culture, facts don’t always matter. Michael Kruger writes, “C.S. Lewis captured this reality well in his book The Magician’s Nephew (part of his Narnia Chronicles). “While Narnia is a land filled with magic—where animals can talk and even sing—not all people can hear them. Indeed, Uncle Andrew cannot. “When the animals speak … Continue reading When Facts Don’t Matter
Prove to Me I’m Wrong.
In John’s biography of Jesus he recorded many instances of people accusing Jesus of being a sinner or all the way to being demon-possessed. In one such story Jesus confronted his accusers: “When I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I … Continue reading Prove to Me I’m Wrong.
The Danger of Hurry
Over the decades, I watched something poison our culture. It's toxic, dangerous. It's called "hurry." Our cultural pace of life has evolved from the manageable to something that looks more like insanity. Stress levels have skyrocketed. Burning out is no longer something the "other guy" is battling. It now affects all of us. Pastor and … Continue reading The Danger of Hurry
Why Don’t People Like to Go to Church?
“When someone tells me yet another horror story about the church, I respond, ‘Oh, it’s even worse than that. Let me tell you my story. I’ve spent most of my life in recovery from the church.’” Philip Yancey “The church is equal parts mystery and mess.” Eugene Peterson I posted the following … Continue reading Why Don’t People Like to Go to Church?
Our Identity in Christ (Who does Jesus say I am?)
If you think you’ve blown God’s plan for your life, rest in this: You, my beautiful friend, are not that powerful. Charles Spurgeon rightly proclaimed, You may not understand all the doctrines of the Bible, but you can understand this — that if you trust in Jesus Christ, you will be a child of … Continue reading Our Identity in Christ (Who does Jesus say I am?)
Satan Hates You and Has a Horrible Plan for Your Life
Back in the day there was a gospel tract called The Four Spiritual Laws. It was used often to help us share our faith with people who knew little to nothing about God. Law No. 1 stated, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." Now, let's look at the flip-side of … Continue reading Satan Hates You and Has a Horrible Plan for Your Life
The Midnight Special
“Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me.” You most likely know the song “The Midnight Special” from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s classic released back in 1969. But the song was actually written during the early 20th century, reaching popularity as it was sung by those incarcerated at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, otherwise known as … Continue reading The Midnight Special
Let Jesus Love You
One of the books I read in 2022 was Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. He writes, “This book is written for the discouraged, the frustrated, the weary, the disenchanted, the cynical, the empty. Those running on fumes. Those whose Christian lives feel like constantly running up a … Continue reading Let Jesus Love You