“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, NKJV) Psalm 23 was the second passage of Scripture that I memorized as a child of six. The first was Psalm 100. Memorizing those two passages early in life shaped my life. I've never doubted that God was my shepherd. I have always enjoyed thinking and…Read more Future World
Jesus
A Call to 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer
Each year, I look forward to our annual 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer. For 25 years I have called our church family to a season of fasting and prayer. For some of us this may be something very new. To give up food for a meal, or for 24 hours, once a week. Why?…Read more A Call to 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer
Happy Sabbath #2
It is a pleasant surprise for a pastor when a Sunday morning message strikes a chord with so many. The message Sunday about Sabbath Rest has sparked conversations every day this week. A common summary of the comments reveals that most of us have not seen Sabbath as the grace gift that it is. There…Read more Happy Sabbath #2
Christmas is for Everyone!
On this fourth day of the Christmas Season, my heart is full of joy! This year's Advent theme was at Woodland was a "A Few of My Favorite Things." The people, the decorations, the lights, and the gifts of Christmas brought us to the scriptural conclusion, "Christmas is for Everyone!" Every year the world is…Read more Christmas is for Everyone!
21 Days of Prayer for Our Friends
A few minutes ago, I prayed with a friend who is a godly pastor. When he asked me to pray for him, immediately what Jesus said in John 14:23, came to mind. “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with…Read more 21 Days of Prayer for Our Friends
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
Love and Fear of God
“All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as…Read more Love and Fear of God
Reaching My Potential
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit in power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him!" (Acts 10:38) Just thinking tonight that since Jesus was anointed, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, how much more do I…Read more Reaching My Potential
Coram Deo 