River sewage
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. (Psalm 36:7-8 NIV) Our pastor once told the story of riding in a large canoe up a river in aContinue Reading
Wisdom & Failure
Choose [God’s] instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 8:10-11 NIV) Once-upon-a-time I attended a workshop with Bill Hybels who was then the pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area. Many years laterContinue Reading
Limping Leaders
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 NIV) ——— Recently, we’ve seen pastors and other Christian leaders removed from their positions because of sin. While we mustContinue Reading
Battles and the Space of Shalom
You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. (Isaiah 26:3 AMP) I’ve had at least three ideas for today’s post. Any of them would be worth exploring,Continue Reading
It’s all a matter of perspective
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT) The story goesContinue Reading
Shields up!
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me;My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 AMP) When I was in grad school, a group of us would eat supper together while watching oldContinue Reading
Trust, Relationships, and Suffering in a Messy World
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12 AMP) It takes a long time to build trust and a good reputation. In our day and age, when lies, smear campaigns, and personal vendettas can spread instantly through digital media, very little fact-checking occurs.Continue Reading
Prayer for military
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 AMP) The Lord is my light and my salvation—Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—Whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1 AMP) Heavenly Father,Continue Reading
Trained for Battle
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(Proverbs 22:6 NIV) In churches and Christian education programs around the world today, more mature believers are pouring into young lives. Let us pray for these next generations of believers,Continue Reading
Psalm 136: Refrain of Love
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) Do you read one Bible translation or several? My primary translation for much of the last 20 years has been the New International Version (NIV) or New Living Translation (NLT), but,Continue Reading