All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. –…… Read more “Pages Alive”

There Adam lay. He was perfect. From his full head of hair to his big toes, he was a sculpture tooled by the creator. Yet, there he…… Read more “God’s Breath”

God Said. Scripture starts with a song. Its lyrics speak of creation. Its lyrics give me my beginning understanding of God’s power. It is my first introduction…… Read more “God’s Word”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” – Jesus Christ At first glance to desire a poor famished spirit does not sound like a worthy goal. Why would…… Read more “Spirit Poor”

I worship an illegal alien. Back when I was learning how to live in a foreign country, I learned a word and a concept to help with…… Read more “Illegal Alien”

My dad built houses and church buildings as a contractor. I still remember watching the construction crew reach the bedrock to pour the concrete foundation. In the…… Read more “Bedrock Life”

God was present when Dr. Pate whacked me on the rear in the delivery room, and I spat out my first cry while sucking into my body…… Read more “Forever Friend”

Conservative is a dull and lifeless word. It speaks of caution. Never do I associate conservative with risk. As the youth say—it is “boring.” In youth language,…… Read more “Conservative God – Not”

Like a balloon, my soul must inflate with compassion to function. Unlike a balloon, my soul will not burst from over inflation. When I reflect on God,…… Read more “Learning Compassion”

Traditions serve as glue to honor value. I think of the wonderful traditions that pay homage to the things we value. The tradition of a birthday cake—with…… Read more “God and Tradition”

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) describes the enormous challenge some face to focus on any given task. To a degree, we all experience Attention Deficit Disorder.  Activity and…… Read more “Cross Visits”

I worship a mysterious God. Where did God come from? Why does He need Angels? How could the “I Am who I Am,” possibly need a human…… Read more “Mysterious God”

Christian writers throughout history create treasures hidden to us behind foreign languages and in books sunk deep in libraries. Why should I care what someone wrote in…… Read more “Hidden Treasure”

Faith stretching is not always a happy occasion. The joy comes with the result. My preferred synonym for faith is trust. A classic faith story in the…… Read more “Stretching Faith”

We are always growing in a dying body. With age, the clock rotates faster and the awareness of body degeneration increases. It seems the only thing that…… Read more “Still Growing”

Compared to time spent on body maintenance I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about my soul. I spend huge amounts of time housing my body,…… Read more “My Soul”

God remembers how He wired me. He owns the specs. Reading Scripture I become overwhelmed with the holiness of God and the high expectations he seems to…… Read more “God Knows”

Must I stay on the balance beam to remain on God’s gracious side? Can I be a friend of God without watching my step? Is it possible…… Read more “Living Freedom”

My parents were too strict. They had a list of commands that were restrictive to an exploring tyke. “Don’t touch the hot stove – Don’t play with…… Read more “God’s Commands”

I make a lousy king of me. When I set my own kingdom rules, I lower the gold standard for me. However, I don’t lower the bar…… Read more “King of Me”

“Common Ground is always hurt and hope.” Professor Walter Brueggeman’s, statement at an Abilene Christian University speaking engagement drew my attention. I immediately wrote it down. One…… Read more “Hurt and Hope”

I don’t reflect enough on the reality of God’s global presence. There is a neat item on God’s fact sheet. It is an “aha,” moment to think…… Read more “Global God”

I am never first in line at a movie. The fact is I don’t go to movies. It is not that I am against a quality and…… Read more “To Be List”

I know God like’s baseball but remain unsure about His equal love for football. Each year we celebrate a new beginning with football—the second national sport. Even…… Read more “Football and God”

Welcome to 2013. My desire for each of us is that we increase our likeness to Jesus in the months to follow. Thank you for traveling with…… Read more “Welcome 2013”

God creates—he never makes copies. At birth, God gave me a secret key. It is one of a kind. It only opens one lock. Only I can…… Read more “He is Able”

Here comes the dreamer. In early years, I dreamed of high school graduation, college graduation, living in South America, having a family, developing a school, a Christian…… Read more “God Dreams”

In November, we celebrated a day of thanksgiving for country. Today, across the globe is a day of thanksgiving for God’s gift of His Son to take…… Read more “Thanksgiving Today”

There were days when Jesus fell into his bed or onto his recliner. I still have to work at the concept of the Son of God being…… Read more “God and Solitary Places”

Isn’t it interesting how many adjectives define God? Generous is such a word. Without God, we rob the word generous of its ultimate significance. It is the…… Read more “Generous God”

“When I find myself speaking to God about my want list, I cheapened our conversation.” A certain mystery surrounds conversation with God. The word used through the…… Read more “God Speak Continued”

It is a marvel—God speaks to man. The overarching story of Scriptures causes me to believe God in fact spoke to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. There…… Read more “God Speak”

Peleg the great, great, great grandson of Noah awakes with the ground shaking. It must have been the great granddaddy of all earthquakes. The Richter Scale would…… Read more “God of Surprise”

“I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” – Jesus For the young 30-year-old raised in Nazareth near the Sea…… Read more “Forever Body”

The body is the perfect analogy for the church. However, there are times the body hurts. It is a good time for a hurting body analogy. I…… Read more “Hurting Body”

The body is the perfect analogy for the church. I am sure the Godhead must appreciate my approval. The writer Philip Yancey co-authored three books with Dr.…… Read more “One Body”

I am tired with complexity. There was a time I could turn to my rotary dial telephone, move my index finger in a circle five times, and…… Read more “Simple Discipleship”

In the “Not So Unbelievable” category, another vote is in. The most requested funeral song for 2012 is Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “My Way.” In Britain, it…… Read more “My Way”

God wills to have fellowship with humanity. For that purpose, He created the garden. After Satan messed with the garden, he won a temporary victory competing with…… Read more “Christ-Like”

God’s will is to have fellowship with humanity. For that purpose, He created the garden. Why should I want to make God’s will complex? Since Satan messed…… Read more “God’s Will”

There is nothing anemic about super. Advertisers want a rise from my attention span and my desire gene when I see or hear the word super. Organizers…… Read more “Supercharged”

China was special. Mom set it apart for special use. Every family owned a set of dinnerware. We all called it china. Everyone knew china held a…… Read more “Set Apart”

I follow Jesus. I want my life to be his life. Without warning, an evil attitude pops into my mind. I can’t believe it—where did that come…… Read more “I Like Paul”

Back in the dark ages—at the time of our marriage—we emerged from the wedding ceremony, greeted by rice. Rice was everywhere. It was in our clothes, our…… Read more “Grace Rice”