Back in 1987, at just sixteen years of age, I preached my first message at a Nazarene church in Deland, FL. The title of the message – “The Blessing of Obedience.” My text came from the remarkable account in John 2:1-12 where Jesus miraculously turned water into the finest wine any man had ever tasted. I had only two simple points; the servants were blessed to be a part of Jesus’ first miracle because they obeyed His command, and the entire wedding party was blessed by the overflow of their obedience.
Read MoreWednesday, August 27, 2014, marked a day of profound loss—the day my grandfather passed away. Little did I know, it also marked the beginning of a spiritual and emotional wilderness journey in my life. At first, I was unaware of this journey unfolding before me, but within a few weeks, it became apparent that God was orchestrating a profound work within me, one that I initially resisted. Despite my prayers and consultations with elders seeking wisdom, the wilderness seemed to grow darker and more arduous with each passing day over the course of two and a half years. Desperation consumed me as I yearned for a way out.
Read MoreIs this the end? Are we headed for Armageddon? Many people, irrespective of their faith, have sensed an apocalyptic aura in the air.
A New York Times article stated, “For people of many faiths, and even none at all, it can feel lately like the end of the world is near.” Another NYT article had the headline, “Apocalypse When?” In fact, nearly every news source that I checked (CNN, MSN, Fox News, etc.) had articles about the end of the world as we know it. Even Wikipedia has a page dedicated to a “List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events.”
In the midst of this speculation, what do we really know about the end of time? What does the Bible really tell us about the return of Jesus, Armageddon, and of the last days?
Read MoreHave you ever felt like God was absent from your life? Like He is out there, but He’s such a long way away? Maybe you have felt like He is ignoring your prayers. Maybe it seems that He’s turned His back on you? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, we find this same sentiment in God’s Word.
Read MoreWhat does the Bible say about premarital sex? While you won't find that specific phrase – “premarital sex” – used in the Bible, the Bible repeatedly talks about "sexual immorality" or "sexual sins." These references to sex are talking about any sexual activity outside of marriage, so if you're having sex without being married ... God wants you to stop.
Read MoreHave you ever felt like something was missing? Perhaps you felt a little incomplete? Or maybe you just felt unfulfilled?Well, you’re not alone, because all human nature is marked by a constant search for fulfillment and completeness…
Read MoreTalking about money at church can be almost as bad as talking about politics at Thanksgiving. Unlike politics, however, money is a necessary conversation because offerings are so frequently mentioned in the Bible. One cannot simply ignore how frequently God addresses the subject. He does so because how we bring our offerings reveals where we are in our relationship with Him…
Read MoreA phrase that has become very popular in recent years is “work-life balance”. It has because so many people feel overwhelmed. They feel as if their lives are out of control, and everything is in chaos. People are looking for an answer – how do I take care of myself, love my family, work a job, and still have time for everything else? How can I bring all this chaos into balance? It’s an important question. But that leads to another question…
Read MoreEvery person, every family, goes through difficult times. When my baby sister was just fifteen years of age, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. It was only discovered because it showed up on X-rays taken for braces. When my mom was just sixty, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer from which her dad had died. When I was forty-six, I was rushed into the hospital for an emergency brain surgery…
Read MoreWhen you read a book, do you read the FOREWORD? Usually, I skim over it and jump right into the book. However, I recently read a book titled Confronting Injustice Without Compromising TRUTH, written by Thaddeus J. Williams, and the FOREWORD, written by John M. Perkins jumped out as excellent. Following is that foreword:
Read MoreSometimes it is easy to be nice to other people. Unfortunately, there are also times when it is difficult to be kind to others. God knows this and so He gave us some directions on how we should treat each other. In fact, He gave us those directions more than one hundred times. Read the following, meditate on these commands, and let them help you know how you should treat others.
Read MoreTry to imitate someone who is perfect! If you are a follower of Christ, that’s what you are asked to do. After all, to truly be a Christian is to be like Christ. And yet, if you have been a follower for any length of time, you know you cannot really be like Him. Nevertheless, that’s what you are called to do.
Read MoreYou can’t read the Bible without recognizing that God is pretty cool and exciting. In fact, He is downright amazing. From Noah building a massive boat for a one-time flood, to David killing a giant with a slingshot, to Daniel sleeping with lions – the Bible is filled with adventure. Giving that I love God and I’m wanting to grow in my relationship with Him, what does all this adventure stuff mean for me? And, how can I get in on the adventure?
Read MoreToday is Mother’s Day. I have been a mom for 21 plus years. And, as a Christian mom I want to raise my children in the beauty of who God is and how very much He loves them.
We are in a series this month called Climate Change, so today I am going to talk to you about changing the climate in your home. If you want to have a healthy growing life you must have the right climate. Here is the question: If you could do one thing in your life that would make it easier for you, your spouse, and your kids to live for God, would you do it? If you knew what that one thing was, would you make that change?
Read MoreThe wise man wrote, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he,” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).
We all experience a range of thoughts and emotions daily. Some are positive— Waking up in the morning and making that first cup of coffee, feeling the promise of the day God has made, watching your children laugh, feeling the hug of your spouse, or listening to that great song in the car you have been playing on repeat…
Read More“When you give …”
“When you pray …”
“When you fast …”
Those are a few of the words that Jesus spoke in His Sermon on the Mount. Clearly, Jesus expects His followers to give, pray, and fast.
“They heard the sound of God as He came to walk in the garden” (Genesis 3:8). In these brief words found in the opening chapters of the Bible, we discover a great truth – God is interested in interacting with us. As we read through the Scriptures, we see again and again where God engages with men and women, and even boys and girls.
In the Old Testament, just to mention a few …
Read MoreMen, we’re supposed to lead our families, or so we are told. We are told that God has called us to be the spiritual head of the house. Yet, many men find this to be very difficult. After all, what does it mean to be a spiritual leader and how do we do it?
Read MoreI want to be a better person, I want to be a better husband, I want to be a better dad, I want to be a better friend; maybe you have made similar statements to these. If so, there are two things you can do to guarantee that you will “do better”…
Read Morehoose to do good things for others. And, if you are a follower of Jesus, doubly choose to do good things for others. After all, doing good for others is what Jesus routinely did. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, provided for those in need, encouraged the discouraged, and so much more. If we are to be like Jesus, we must choose to help people, to bless them.
Beyond emulating Jesus, why should we choose to do good things for others, especially those we don’t know, or worse, those we don’t care for?
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