With minor changes, this email below is what I sent to the three pastors in my church. This church is growing in numbers and has a great zeal for the Lord. But they have a serious weak spot which the devil is sure to exploit. As the church grows they will need strong small groups.… Continue reading Keeping Your Small Groups Real: How To Foster Unity and Spiritual Intimacy
Category: Trials
How God Uses Our Suffering
When I was a young man in my 20’s, I ranted and railed against God because in my view, any God who was all loving, all powerful and all knowing would never allow suffering. My unspoken belief (however naive), was that being carefree and without pain was always good. While being beset by anguish and… Continue reading How God Uses Our Suffering
Why Self Pity (Not Trying) Is Much Worse Than Failing
Below is a letter of encouragement to a Jesus filled friend who struggles with self pity and sometimes wonders if he should even try. Several times at the height of his self pity, the Lord had him come across a person who delights in Jesus even though the man was confined to a wheelchair. My… Continue reading Why Self Pity (Not Trying) Is Much Worse Than Failing
How To Put On The Full Armor of God
In Ephesians 6, we are commanded to “Put on the full armor of God” so we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. We are reminded that this is not about politics. Our enemy is not people. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against… Continue reading How To Put On The Full Armor of God
What’s Your Story? Is It Really All About You?
While many harp on the prosperity gospel, the fact is that no matter what we do, we’ll inevitably have despair, we will certainly face hardship, and we’re absolutely guaranteed to have suffering. We don’t have to pursue these things. Such trials will come naturally. This is what happened to all 12 disciples. This is what… Continue reading What’s Your Story? Is It Really All About You?
What Is Truth? Is It Just About Facts?
A Letter To Ron: Earlier you mentioned that you keep running into that guy in the wheelchair, and that you can’t understand why in spite of his infirmity, he still has this unexplainable joy. I know you are going through some scary and difficult times. And that it’s hard for you to believe you can… Continue reading What Is Truth? Is It Just About Facts?
Don’t Be Duped Into Fighting The Wrong Fight!
Human beings are quite a piece of work. With enough spin and enough moral outrage, we can argue, divide and dislike each other for things that are monumentally unimportant. Take for example, the age old battle over the toilet seat. Men will vehemently argue that the seat should always be up. While women assiduously decry… Continue reading Don’t Be Duped Into Fighting The Wrong Fight!
The Top 3 Reasons Christians Remain Small
So you’ve known Jesus for many years but never seem to grow. Sure you pray a lot and read the Bible a lot. Maybe you even go to church a lot. But are you really maturing? Are you becoming more and more like Jesus each day? Or are you the one who panics whenever there’s… Continue reading The Top 3 Reasons Christians Remain Small
Thoughts I Just Had To Write Down
Balloons are happy but not alive (Holmes & Watson w/ Will Ferrell) People don’t give up their bad habits until they’re firmly convinced that what they’re doing is an obstacle to where or who they want to be. Feeling bad rarely results in doing better (Andy Stanley) Questions for singles who want to meet Mr/MRS… Continue reading Thoughts I Just Had To Write Down
Being Stuck In The Desert
(Letter to Helen) I know you’re in despair. And that it appears you will always be in debt, always be unemployed and have never ending depression. This is a lie. I am praying for you. The Lord uses this time to draw you to Him. You can yell at Him, cry at Him, talk to… Continue reading Being Stuck In The Desert