I began ministry as a naive simplistic young man. My wife Denie and I joined hearts and hands and we’ve journeyed this road together. How much better our lives would have been had I known more when we started, but I didn’t. My mistakes are many. I think I’m a slow...
Running! That’s what life feels like for most people today. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Pressed, stressed, overloaded, trying to keep up with everything. It’s not just one thing—it's lots of things and all at the same time. When life is like that, you start avoiding the...
You already have an identifying characteristic. You are known for something, an attitude or behavior that is consistent. It says who you are. It’s you! Ask 5 of your friends or family members that know you well to describe your most prominent characteristic. (This...
God makes no mistakes. God never guesses. He never over-thinks anything. He is never confused, never anxious, and never without a plan. The universe testifies to the order determined by the Creator. The sun comes up every day. The moon in its various versions appears...
Before we answer that, here’s another one: What is normal? You’re feeling a certain way this week, and decide there must be something wrong with you. So you go visit your doctor, and he/she says, “Well, tell me how your friends feel?” Or what if he said, “You know...
Are you being respectful? What is respect? Can you define what it means to respect others? Taking this further, can you define respect for fellow believers? I recently read this list written by a pastor named Charles W. Christian, which states his principles of...
Some time ago, I picked up a John Maxwell book. The first chapter was on “character.” Let me share with you some of what he teaches. John says we all want “character,” and yet it’s not always clear what that means. We may boast of the essential qualities that make...
Never let anyone control your life by saying “God said” unless they are accurately and appropriately quoting Scripture – then you must pay attention. How many times do we hear someone say, “God spoke to me! The Lord showed me! I heard from God! I’ve had a vision!”...
Eskimos live in the far north of Russia and North America. Years ago in a remote Eskimo village, dogfights were the only diversion and sport. One old Eskimo owned two particularly strong and vicious dogs who fought each other every Saturday. One dog won one week and...
How good are you at communication? Do people understand you when you speak? Do they know what you really mean, or are you vague, unclear, or even silent? One of the greatest errors we make with communication is assumptions. We assume people understand us. We assume...