In the gospel of John chapter ten, Jesus states that the devil is a thief and he comes to steal, kill and destroy the lives of believers. But He contrasts that doom and gloom with this promise: “I have come that they may have life and that they may...

It is the week after Easter, so very likely this past Sunday we all sang Charles Wesley’s famous hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” It is an incredible song that reminds us all of the power and implications of Christ’s resurrection. There are...

I have some friends who have been missionaries for 30 some years. They just recently returned from overseas and are experiencing quite the culture shock. Their estimate of what a car should cost was woefully understated in their budget. What they...

Do you remember what your first lunch box was like? Some Boomers will shout out, “We just had brown bags!” I too remember a sandwich wrapped in wax paper in a tan bag. But then the metal boxes came along. And each fall, I got to pick the theme for...

I love the British Isles. Lived there as a kid, did my senior year of high school in a boarding school north of London and have visited many times since. While I delight in the English countryside, the quaint villages, the flower pots and row...

I have just started teaching a new Bible study series on Heaven. And last week, we explored the penetrating question, “Are you homesick for heaven?” I started my remarks with the statement that we all were made for another world. This experience we...

One of my favorite stories about murmuring and complaining involves a monk. Apparently he “joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, "Do you have anything to say?" The monk replied,...

When God wanted to identify Himself, He referred to Himself as Yahweh (YHWH). Consider these words from Exodus 3:15 (NLT): “God also said to Moses, say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh (YHWH), the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, the...

A story is told about two frogs who fell into a tub of cream. One looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, “It is hopeless.” He hated to wait! So he resigned himself to death, relaxed, and sank to the...

Everyone has a few favorite words. Those preferred words tend to be repeated a lot. Maybe it is a new term for them and they are “trying it out.” Or maybe they just like the way it sounds. (I am definitely one of those people. Onomatopoeia words...

Generally, we all like that phrase, “God provides.” When we find ourselves in a place of need, it’s great to be able to parrot that well-used phrase of comfort and encouragement, “God provides.” But recently I have been teaching through the book of...

I think there is a natural fascination about the final words people speak just before dying. For example, consider the thoughts of the world leader, Winston Churchill. Reportedly, his last words were, “I’m bored with it all.” Most of us have the...