Christian Life
Does God Have a Plan for My Life?
There have been many times I've wondered where this thing is headed—live seems off the rails and I wonder who is in control. Does God have a plan for me? Are all of these things really working together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29)? Watch the Message Here: https://youtu.be/jOVDlsQhmYU Even in Loss, He has My Gain in Mind Imagine the scene:...
Prayer of Honesty: God of Jacob?
Dear God of Abraham, Isaac and - of all people - Jacob? Why are you his God? Why did you bless such a dirty rotten scoundrel? Why did you wrestle with him instead of killing him? Why? You are not fair God. You don’t move the way I would expect you to. You don’t play by the rules. You are not like the rest of us. But I...
Radical Surrender (Luke 9:1-9)
Preaching Outline: Attn: Intro to my story and time at MHC (magic pic): God uses us in spite of us. PRAY – kneel. God, thank you for using us thought we are not worthy to be used. Thank you for taking us from utter despair and leading us to utter dependence upon you… INTRODUCTION: Attn: Hide Seek and Scare w/ Lewis Quote: The...
Love is the Way of Life [sermon]
Sermon on 1 John 3:11-18 When it comes to loving God, if we are not loving others, we are not experiencing the life God offers us. True love for God will result in a selfless abandonment to service others. We don’t just say we love, we live out our love authentically and faithfully. Sermon Outline: Only do this: Love God, Love others (v. 11) Seeds of jealousy bear fruit of...
Keeping Less So We Can Have More of Life
One of my new favorite pastimes is to get rid of things. Over the last few decades of life, I have managed to collect boxes of keepsakes, paraphernalia and "I might use that someday..." stuff. I have literally filled my basement with who-knows-what. If we had a flood, I would not be able to tell the insurance adjuster what...
Meet Christ at the Rock: Learning to Pray for God’s Will Over Mine
Remember these words – “Not my will.” It was a simple prayer and a hurting cry from a torn soul. Jesus prayed it on the night before His death, and it is a prayer that is important for us to copy ourselves. I am sure it was not the pain of the nails or thrashing of the whip that Jesus feared the...
Enjoy Life.
"Dad, are you singing in the shower?" As I heard the little voice on the other side of the curtain, I stopped my mumbling solo with a smile, "Yes, Chandler, I am singing in the shower." "Oh, I thought so" he confidently replied. My three-year-old son has a way of pointing out the obvious - but often missed - parts of life....
Are We Asking the Wrong Questions?
There is a lot of buzz lately about what is going on in our culture. It seems like things that were once immoral are now legal and what is legal goes against what the church has always stood for. Christians have a way of getting worked up over things the world decides, as if we expected them to act more...
What Are You Willing To Do For Your Kids?
Recently, I spent a day on the slopes with my son. Even though I don't ski, it was one of the greatest days of my winter. Here is one thing I know for sure: all of us want to be great parents to our kids. None of us wake up and say, I really hope that mess my kid up today. No,...
When I can only write 2 words
A man once told me, “To write a book is to write one’s self.” He was right. When I write I feel most vulnerable because it is as if I am being captured on paper. Writing brings me to the extremes I rarely visit. It causes me to search for pleasure in places unexpected. It forces me to think on...
The Resurrection is True!
1 Corinthians 15:12, “How can some of you say there is no resurrection from the dead?” If Christ did not rise from the dead, then the proclamation of The Gospel is pointless. What is the Cross without victory over death? Mortality would remain the eternal vault for the soul and punishment for all mankind if there were never victory over...
10 Bible Verses to Support Your New Year’s Resolutions
A New Year is seen as a fresh beginning, a time for resolutions and promises on habits and behaviors we’d like to incorporate into this new start. Here are 10 Scriptures to support and encourage you in your New Year’s New Beginning. All verses from the ESV translation. Psalm 5:3 "O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare...