Have you ever faced persecution? Real persecution? Unless you’ve spent time living overseas as a local in a creative access country, the answer is most likely “no”. We like to throw the term “persecution” around a lot these days. The checker at Walmart doesn’t wish us Merry Christmas. Our nephew’s elementary school performs a “Winter Concert” and sings “Frosty the Snowman” instead of … [Read more...]
Good Friday Thoughts….from the Thief
April 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Condemned to die and hanging on a cross. Hoisted upon two wooden boards and on display for crowds to mock and ridicule. An excruciating and shameful way to die, but truth be told, a fitting ending for the life of evil and crime I had led. My final moments took place at Golgotha - the place of the skull. I never could have imagined that at this very place - surrounded by death, pain, … [Read more...]
Worshiping – No Matter the Circumstances
April 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment
It was a beautiful night. Over 100 hundred gathered - from every denomination - from every generation - from across Indiana - and together we worshiped the living God - the good, good Father - the Lord of all. At times during the simulcast of Worship Night in America, one couldn’t hear the recorded voices from the speakers because the live voices in the Church drowned them out. People … [Read more...]
From Death & Despair to Vitality & Life
March 30, 2017 By 1 Comment
During Bible Study this week, we studied the early church in Ephesus and were surprised to read about new disciples who “[had] not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:1-2) Such a declaration is hard to imagine among Jewish Christians, but reminds us the early church was made up of not only Jewish, but also Gentile believers. The significant role of the Spirit of the Lord … [Read more...]
How Long, O Lord?
November 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment
You may have heard me share that my two favorite books in the Bible are Leviticus and Lamentations (followed closely by James). Lamentations presents this beautiful dichotomy between the terror and heartache of daily life, and the mercy and love of God. In the midst of describing untold despair, the writer of Lamentations pauses, looks heavenward, and proclaims, “Yet this I call to mind … [Read more...]
