Why am I here?
Sooner or later, every thoughtful person asks that question.
We may phrase it differently. Where did I come from? Does my life matter? Is there a purpose for my existence? But behind each question is the same longing—to know that our lives have meaning. Continue reading
In his book The Me I Want to Be, John Ortberg tells about the first time he and his wife went fly fishing.
Their guide explained, “To catch a fish, you have to think like a fish.” To a fish, life is about the maximum gratification of appetite with the minimum expenditure of energy. Fish don’t stop to reflect on danger or recognize the lure hiding a deadly hook. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will never forget you,” penned William A. Ward
Ward understood something the Bible has taught for centuries: encouragement leaves a lasting imprint on the human heart.
Encouragement is one of the “one another” commands issued by the apostle Paul. Continue reading
Filed under Encouragement
Leonard Bernstein, the renowned conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, was once asked, “What is the hardest instrument to play? Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Greetings from Welland, Ontario, Canada
This summer marks our 8th year in Canada, working with the Wellandport brethren and other Canadian churches as opportunities arise.
Norma Jean and I have been richly blessed by our association with these wonderful brethren. They are kind, encouraging, and, most of all, dedicated to Kingdom work, regardless of the circumstances, challenges, or setbacks they may encounter. Continue reading
Filed under Weekly Recap
Pride is one of those sins that are especially deceptive because they often hide behind virtue. Usually, the proud person is frequently the last one to recognize it.
My preaching colleague, Gardner Hall, posted a short but powerful piece a few weeks ago that speaks to this universal challenge; he entitled it The Arrogant “We.”
What is the arrogant “we”? Continue reading
Filed under facebook friday
The headline from CTPastors online caught my attention.
Why Belonging Is Not Enough
It immediately challenged a thought I’ve repeated through the years: “It’s not enough to believe; you must belong.” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
That’s awesome!” the waitress said as I ordered my meal.
“It’s that good?” I replied skeptically.
“It’s awesome!” she repeated. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
This year, instead of attending local celebrations, Norma Jean and I watched our nation’s 250th birthday festivities from the comfort of our family room.
The televised events from Williamsburg, VA, Philadelphia, and, of course, Washington, D.C., were entertaining and enjoyable.
The speeches, musical tributes, on-the-street interviews, and fireworks displays promoted a feeling of patriotism and renewed appreciation and gratitude for our American birthright. Continue reading
Filed under America, Discipleship
You may have seen Daniel Lubetzky on Shark Tank, introduced as the founder and CEO of KIND.
You’ve probably seen KIND bars in the snack aisle at the grocery store.
But did you know the story behind KIND? Continue reading
Filed under Love More. Give More
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