To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. – Jesus Paradise—what a happy…… Read more “God’s Garden”
God Wins – Satan Loses
God did it. Like His Track Record, He kept His promise. On God’s Big Day, the struggle for man’s allegiance will cease. Christ’s murder on a cross…… Read more “God Wins – Satan Loses”
The Big Day
It was December 7, 1941. The surprise was complete. No one saw it coming. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the unsuspected attack on Pearl Harbor as “a date…… Read more “The Big Day”
I Will Be Changed
After the meltdown—I will be changed. Can you imagine the pure joy of living in a perfect body? Until then, no one is ever handsome or beautiful…… Read more “I Will Be Changed”
God’s Meltdown
The Hebrew people had it wrong. From their history, their culture, and their limited reality they awaited an earthly king. I suspect their interpretation of lions and…… Read more “God’s Meltdown”
God and Me
Were I the only one going, would I have courage to follow? A couple of days ago, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was on the “remember when”…… Read more “God and Me”
Forever
“. . . the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will…… Read more “Forever”
Travel Prep
Travel is an intimate companion. Together—travel and I—racked up a million miles on one airline, most likely a million miles on the joint use of other airlines,…… Read more “Travel Prep”
Garden Press Release
If I were God—how would I describe the Eternal Garden? How can God describe His celestial reality to me, a mere bug, who fails and struggles with…… Read more “Garden Press Release”
Pages Alive
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”
God’s Book
Not long ago my old professor and friend Neil Lightfoot died. What a great man. Surely, when the Apostle John lived, his voice must have sounded like…… Read more “God’s Book”
God’s Breath
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’s Word
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”
Spirit Poor
“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”
Illegal Alien
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”
Bedrock Life
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”
Forever Friend
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 God – Not
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”
Learning Compassion
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”
God and Tradition
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”
Cross Visits
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”
Mysterious God
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”
Hidden Treasure
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”
Stretching Faith
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”
Still Growing
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”
My Soul
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 Knows
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”
Living Freedom
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”
God’s Commands
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”
King of Me
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”
Hurt and Hope
“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”
Global God
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”
To Be List
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”
Football and God
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 2013
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”
He is Able
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”
God Dreams
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”
Thanksgiving Today
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”
God and Solitary Places
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”
Generous God
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”
Advent Week Four – Christ Returns
Advent week four celebrates the final divine entrance into the world. God will send Jesus to claim His followers and then terminate history, as we know it.…… Read more “Advent Week Four – Christ Returns”
Advent Week Three – Death of All Deaths
The death of Jesus was the death of all deaths. It split rocks, darkened the earth, caused temple curtains to rip open, and raised the dead. It…… Read more “Advent Week Three – Death of All Deaths”
Advent Week Two – New Heart
The God of Justice was exasperated with His people. They would not do right. Through the prophets, God promised a time when He would place a new…… Read more “Advent Week Two – New Heart”
Advent Week One – Waiting for God
The wait was for God to act. God loved David and his subjects. David and his citizens loved God in return. Within two generations, kings and people…… Read more “Advent Week One – Waiting for God”
Advent God
Christmas is on the calendar and the days seem shorter with early sunsets. It is the season of Advent. The church I attended as a child knew…… Read more “Advent God”
God Speak Continued
“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”
God Speak
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”
God of Surprise
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”
Forever Body
“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”