As we enter 2025, what are your hopes, goals, plans, or growth commitments? Without direction—and commitment to that direction—you’ll go in circles. Busy and active but in circles. Clear intentions—with daily habits—will take you far. This is most effectively grounded in set-apart time with God each morning, as Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice . . . and [I] wait in expectation.” What will you do with God’s gift of this year in your life?Then consider that good plans can meet trouble and hardship. Or disaster may strike. Be prepared for that too.If you are a true…
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The eternal Word of God was incarnated and born as a human being into a world reeling in political and military turmoil, economic stress, and religious oppression. That sounds a lot like many parts of the world today, especially the Middle East—same place, similar issues. The fall of the Assad dictatorship in Syria is a historic watershed event that has brought freedom to Syrians. Internationally, it thankfully devastates Iran’s and Russia’s influence in the area. It’s shrinking the door for Syrian migrants and asylum seekers in Europe. Israel has taken unprecedented opportunity in destroying military assets so as not to…
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I visited Plymouth, Massachusetts, and saw a replica of the Pilgrim’s (or more accurately the Separatists’) ship, the Mayflower. And I visited a replica of their original settlement. They came partly to escape grinding poverty and take a big chance at starting a new life in the New World. But they came primarily for religious independence from the oppressive and corrupt state church in England. They had bought a ship and were to sail on two ships, but their ship leaked, and after many weeks they couldn’t fix it, so they all piled onto the rented cargo ship called The…
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I visited Northampton, Massachusetts, to see what physically remained of the ministry of Jonathan Edwards, who lived in the early 1700s and was the leader of the First Great Awakening and is still considered one America’s greatest theologians. All that remains is the semi-circular stone step of Edwards’ third meeting house, which was placed at the entrance to the present brownstone church building. That’s it. An informational sign placed by the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities succinctly tells an essential part of his history: “Edwards’ preaching had been marvelously effective, but he had made serious enemies in the community. There…
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My wife and I stayed at a resort where we expected a room with a view but were instead assigned the worst room in the entire place, right in front of the maintenance garage and parking lot. I was disappointed. So I thought about why. It came down to my expectations. If I had simply gone there for business or a conference, I wouldn’t have cared because my expectations would not have included a nice view. But I was there on vacation—and I would pray, read, think, relax, and eat most of my meals on the deck or patio outside…
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