Jesus once said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Peace is the result of trusting God completely. The Bible also tells us that God’s peace surpasses human comprehension (Phil. 4:7). When we give up our right to [...]
Almost every week I meet someone who is experiencing the pain of an unfulfilled dream. I’ve discovered that unfulfilled dreams become a part of the Lord’s strategy to get us to where we can know Him more intimately and become the most fruitful. Jesus said: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and [...]
When our oldest daughter, Katrina, was about three years old, she could not hear properly in her right ear, so we took her to our family doctor. After giving her a thorough examination, he took a tube of water and shot it into her ear. Would you believe that a wad of paper came out?! [...]
Meditating on the Word of God is powerful! Someone once said the mind is like a tree full of monkeys jumping from branch to branch. The whirl of distractions that clamor for our attention when we try to quiet ourselves often involve the usual cast of characters—our “to do” list, a chore we should have [...]
I’m convinced that we should not get too selective about the method in which the Lord speaks to us. Instead, we need to stay open to His speaking to us in any way He chooses. During the past 30 years, I spent much of my time traveling throughout the world teaching the Bible. One of [...]
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13, 14). “One thing” includes four simple pieces of advice: Forget what is behind – we cannot change our past, so receive grace [...]
It was the first day of the Green Bay Packers football team training camp in 1961. The team arrived to start a brand-new season after losing the championship the year before. Their famous coach, Vince Lombardi, shocked the team as he started with the most elemental statement. “Gentlemen,” he said, holding a pigskin in his right hand, [...]
I turn 70 today. And I have found Psalm 100:5 to be so true! “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Just looking back the past few decades, LaVerne and I have been amazed at the faithfulness of God in our lives, in our family, and in the lives of those we love [...]
I realize I need help to see the racism in my own life that I am blind to. I grieve over the racism, discrimination and racial injustice that still exists in our country, in the church, and in many of our lives. I do not claim to understand what African American or Black American families [...]
This week we buried my 96-year-old mother who went to be with the Lord. My dad passed on to glory nine years ago. As I reflect on their lives, I realize I am a blessed man to have been born into my family. I remember my parents teaching me the value of loving God and [...]