A New Change
Kim and I have entering a new life change this month as we have finished our work in Louisiana, transitioned things over to a great pastoral leader, David Craig, who will guide it’s future as this virus passes. We’re so glad we came to Louisiana, yet we wish we could have done more. We’ve been blessed in so many ways, particularly my own prayer life and spiritual growth. Living in the South has also been a rich experience I will forever cherish, and we’ve come to love the people there. We will miss y’all! It’s a bittersweet departure. For some…
Facing the the Plague
I would have written sooner, but I’m in the midst of moving… Consider a few things about COVID-19 from a Kingdom of God perspective: Psalm 91 tells us twice, in verses 3 and 6–7, that God will save us from “the deadly pestilence” and also “the plague.” One could take this presumptuously and falsely assume God will keep one safe. But those who experience the reality of the Bible’s promises are ones who deeply and diligently submit themselves to God and boldly expect in faith and by the leading of the Holy Spirit that God will do what he says…
Amazed at What I Didn’t Know
One of my richest aspects of living in the South has been learning about the African-American experience. Before I came here I thought I understood it. I could not have been more naively mistaken. I learned at the nation’s primary exhibits in Atlanta, GA; Montgomery, AL; and Jackson, MS. Month after month my church member and dear friend, Jerry, who’s with me in the photo, graciously interacted with me about what things were like in the past, and what still lingers. I’ve come to see politics and human rights at a much deeper level. Yet I’ve also seen how in…
Live As If
Judges 6–7 tells the story of Gideon. This guy was a wimp. He was in the smallest clan in the smallest Israelite tribe, which lived in defeat and fear of the enemy. Gideon was so fearful of being seen that he winnowed wheat (something people in the wind on a hilltop) in a winepress (dug low in the ground out of sight). But God was looking for someone to lead his people. He seemed particularly interested in finding a wimp to turn into a warrior. So he sent an angel to Gideon and said, “Greetings, mighty warrior!” Gideon probably looked…
Your Annual Growth
The greatest gift you can give yourself is the development of your own character. Think: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). You may or may not have a New Year’s resolution for 2020, but they typically rely on willpower. And willpower is like a battery with limited energy—it wears out and needs frequent recharging. That’s why resolutions so often fail. But if we use our willpower to develop simple habits that we do every day, the habits pave the way to…
