They are young, beautiful, smart, committed and very talented. With a committee, I'm listening intently to their story about the last three years. They live in a somewhat closed country, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a Zoom call but you see and hear their joy, passion and pain as we ask questions…Read more Preparation is Important
Proclaim Liberty (part two)
Walking through the museums of the American Revolution, I was reminded of the role that the local church and pastors had in the founding and direction of our young nation. However, these churches and pastors understood that liberty was the gift of God. God given liberty released you from slavery to enjoy a life that…Read more Proclaim Liberty (part two)
Proclaim Liberty
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10) I had forgotten about the inscription on the bell from Leviticus 25:10. It's a reminder of the joy, privilege and responsibility of liberty we enjoy. A few weeks ago, my wife said, "Since I was a little girl, I have wanted to…Read more Proclaim Liberty
Memorial Day 2022
I have listened and prayed with some friends today who lost a loved one serving our nation in our wars. We have remembered. One gave his life at Corregidor. Becky and I remember locating the grace of one of her relatives in Normandy who died on D-Day. My mother leaned over to me in church…Read more Memorial Day 2022
Peace, Uvalde, and Memorial Day
Good Morning Family,I had no idea when I was preparing for last Sunday’s message about God’s promise of peace to us; the horror that awaited us after the Buffalo, New York murders that we would be horrified by the Uvalde school murders. It has been horrifying for the families of those children and mourning for…Read more Peace, Uvalde, and Memorial Day
The Serious Business of Heaven is Joy
“The serious business of heaven is joy.” (G. K. Chesterton) What a marvelous sentence. Heaven is a place of total and perfect joy. Augustine said, “It is the decided opinion of all who use their brains that all men desire to be happy.” Consider these descriptions from Revelation 21-22. God will live with us, sadness,…Read more The Serious Business of Heaven is Joy
Heaven is a Promise
One night my grandson came to my bedside and hugged me goodnight. He said, "Papa, I asked Jesus to let you come see me. And he did!" It's a moment that I will treasure. First, because he prayed. Second, because his faith grew. Third, because of his love. Later that week, we went for a…Read more Heaven is a Promise
Heaven A Place Called Home
Randy Alcorn wrote a very good book entitled Heaven. It is an encouraging and comprehensive book if it is quite a long read. It is biblical, and full of illustrations that help us think and rejoice about our eternity. One of the features of the book that I love is this. It makes you appreciate…Read more Heaven A Place Called Home
THINKING ABOUT HEAVEN
The Baptistry Ceiling, Florence, Italy A few weeks ago, my Sunday morning message at Woodland Church was about the promise of heaven. I experienced so much joy preparing and preaching that message. Since then I have had two funerals of close friends to preach. These men were passionate followers of Christ. I prepared with a…Read more THINKING ABOUT HEAVEN
Responsibility and Freedom
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” (John 8:36, NLT) "Freedom is only part of the story and half the truth .... That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast." Victor Frankl, Man's Search…Read more Responsibility and Freedom
Coram Deo 