In the message last week, we noted how Israel may have wondered "Where's God" in the midst of being attacked repeatedly by the surrounding nations. We also thought about times when perhaps we've asked that question in the midst of feeling surrounded by opposing circumstances. I hope...
I am no expert. I do not invest all the time, research, and money in order to become among the elite. But I do know how to make a pretty satisfying cup of espresso. An aficionado would correct me, but I've learned a few things about the art. I say "art" not because I'm a great artist, but...
The dictionary defines “boldness” as the willingness to take risks with confidence and courage. This word describes the way the Apostles declared Christ’s message of redemption after Pentecost. It first appears in the Apostles immediately after Pentecost and spread to...
In our last message, I mentioned the idea that some people are like closed countries. Let me put some more flesh on those bones. "Closed countries" are those countries that are closed to the Gospel. They do not grant missionary visas. They do not allow open proselytizing. It might be illegal...
Yes, the picture is that of a dragon. It's biblical. Over the last couple of years, the Middle school Sunday school class read through Genesis and made their own pictorial scroll of the entire book. You likely saw their work displayed throughout the church in the Spring. By drawing what they...
I'm sure most of you (or all of you) have encountered someone who objected to the existence of God based on the constraints of science. They want proof of God's existence, and then proof that He has any interaction with humankind. Without proof, they claim, they cannot subscribe to the idea that...
Perhaps I should have said a whole lot less or a whole lot more. In last week's message, while describing God's will as "less Checklist and more EKG," I described how God's will for our lives is expressed more by His heart for matters than by a simple 1-2-3 checklist of things to do. To...
Let this sink in: Your zip code is a better predictor of your success than your genetic code. According to statistics, which zip code you live has a greater impact on your success in school, work, social standing, health, mental health, and overall wellness than your DNA does. There's no...
I admire the hospice workers and chaplain who have served my family through my father's terminal illness. Amazing people doing amazing work with excellence, patience, and compassion. They've been through the process dozens of times, but we hadn't, and yet they never acted like it was just...
Until this summer, I thought that going to the Challenge conference as a leader would require more of me than when I was a student. I was expecting to have to let the students decide what we do and keep from dominating the discussions. I was ready to take on that role. What I wasn’t...