Our Blog
The Presence of God is given first place.
"Everybody squirt!" Suddenly 100 women whip out their spray bottles and begin to squirt their neighbor. Shrieking and laughing, we all cool down from the 105 degree heat. OK, back to the teaching... Our first multi-day conference for women is in progress. It's a first for most. A bit tentative and shy at first, they are warming up to the idea of a safe place where camaraderie and fun are core values. They will spend three full days here in a...
Sheep Among Wolves
The Lord’s strategy to defeat religious deception and to dispel the darkness of hate and prejudice is NOT to unleash an army of sword-wielding, gun-toting zealots into the world. Quite the contrary, He is releasing a flock of defenseless sheep armed only with the gospel. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” (Matthew 10:16) Recently I learned of a documentary on YouTube called Sheep Among Wolves. In one hour, it explores the dangers and the challenges of living as a Christian in a predominantly Muslim country. Though it’s dangerous to be a Christ-follower in those lands, believers consider...
Deny Self
In his book, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” Dr. Brand said it more clearly than I could, “Our culture exalts self-fulfillment, self-discovery, and autonomy. But according to Christ, it is only in losing my life that I will find it. Only by committing myself as a ‘living sacrifice’ to the larger Body through loyalty to Him will I find my true reason for being. We are called to self-denial, not for its own sake, but for a compensation we can obtain no other way.”Dr. Brand is referring to Jesus’ statement, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and...
Good Contractors
We all know how important a solid and level foundation is to any building. The Apostle Paul employed the analogy of construction in the third chapter of 1 Corinthians. There, we’ll find lessons for all of us, whether we are employed in the building trades or not. The apostle told the Christians in Corinth that his sharing the gospel with them was like the work of a skilled contractor. “I have laid the foundation like an expert builder.” (1 Corinthians 3:10). He goes on to explain that the foundation he laid was Jesus Christ.Like anyone knows, simply having a good...
More of Him, Less of Me
John the Baptist was not your ordinary man. “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3:4) But Jesus said of him, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11). So, looking past his meals and fashion statement, there are a couple of qualities that we should try to emulate. For those less familiar with the Bible, a little explanation is in order. John’s parents were quite old and childless, when...