Through a great deal of pain, frustration, effort, and even prayer I’ve learned to admit and accept that there are some things you can do nothing about. Birth! Upbringing! Weather! The Past! Some are hindered from making progress in life because of what’s “back there”. I know. Instead of being restrained by a past you cannot change, there’s a question that can change everything going forward. When you’re honest with God you’ll be amazed at the hurts that heal, the losses recovered, and the redeemed life that the gospel received produces. And, you’ll live no longer on borrowed power (From 2 Kgs 6:1-7):  Read More

Can you recall a time when you thought you knew where you were going but realized you were going in the wrong direction!? Sometimes life brings a circumstance that makes us want to walk away. So, we take a walk to clear our heads, think thru some things… But here’s a question you’ll need to answer: If you keep walking down the road you’re on, where will it lead in the end? When going the wrong way, God will walk with you awhile. And on that road as you walk and talk with Jesus, things can get turned in the right direction. With Jesus, it’s never too late to turn it around and He’ll meet you where you are right now (Context is From Luke 24:1-12 after Jesus' resurrection and meeting some disillusioned disciples) Every one of us can find ourselves disillusioned and going the wrong way. Right? Here's a few thoughts to about when you find yourself on the wrong road:  Read More

Having been pastor for quite a while I’ve seen lots of people come and go. They run to Jesus during some crisis or emotional time only to walk away when God deals with some sin or issue in their life. People like you and me can be like that. Friend, I’m glad you came today… But I’m concerned about how you’ll leave. Before you can take hold of life as God intended, you’ll have to let go of some things: The one thing.   Read More

Why does God allow such pain and problems in our lives? Why does He give us those mountain top experiences only to take us to the valley of the shadow of death? To truly understand the hardships and losses of life, we must understand the gives and takes of God. He asks a question in the hard things; Will you worship me here? Remember, when it cannot get any worse, don't curse. Worship (instead). I’m going to remind you how God also allows you to suffer, often by a ruthless and relentless foe called the Devil. God allows the attacks of Satan to prove and prepare you for His purposes. So, arm yourself. Satan attacks five things to force you to curse (no longer worship) God. The order is instructive and in each we can hear God ask, will you worship me here? It’s part of why He gives and takes (From Job 1-2): How do we fight the foe and faithfully reveal Jesus and His gospel in the give and takes of God? (5 Thoughts)...   Read More

What is one thing you can expect from someone who professes to believe God and the gospel? Change. The gospel is both life-giving and life-changing and our mission is making it visible and accessible. Here’s our challenge. Can we build a church that creates a community that is biblically literate and genuinely Christian – one you’d never want to leave? With discipleship and some discipline, we can and should. As we embark on our mission to engage others with the gospel and teach them how to live as followers of Jesus Christ, we’ll regularly be introduced to four kinds of attenders... (From 1 Cor. 5:9-13)  Read More

How does the local church remain on mission and handle the messes of ministry that direct engagement, discipleship, and discipline involve? A church on mission is a church in tension. We can desire it so clean we see none come to Christ or we can prefer it so permissive it becomes puffed up. We can do better as Bible-believers. (From 1 Cor. 5:6-10)  Read More

When people persist in destructive or selfish behavior - especially scandalous sin - it calls for tough love, not toleration... When people are treated as objects to pursue to fulfill raw pleasure, real pain is the result.  Read More

Engagement with the gospel locally is redemption made reachable. But we can get misaligned in our mission. The church that is growing is a church that is changing -in part because each new person, each family brings a diversity of history, expectations, culture, perspective, goals, hopes… sins. We all have them all. And we need to go there from time to time to stay healthy and cultivate an environment that fosters growth. It’s what the rest of 1 Corinthians is about.  Read More

What if angels could talk? What would they say about what you believe by how you behave when there’s no one that threatens you? You’re a spectacle. But for what will you be noticed? (From 1 Cor. 4:6-13):   Read More

When was the last time you took inventory of yourself? It’s a good practice. It can also be painful. An inventory of to what we’re faithful can awaken us to some things that need to be replaced. Two options only on the shelf, serving God or serving self. (From 1 Cor. 4:1-5)  Read More

Being distracted in, divisive over, or disengaged from faithful ministry is both foolish and carnal. The wise labor for the Lord knowing our work will be judged strictly and rewarded richly if we build wisely. We’re workers together in the greatest mission ever: Farming for the souls of men and building up the body of Christ. We’re waterers and workers for Jesus, no more. But with that work comes a warning (From 1 Corinthians 3:10-23)  Read More

Camps, and conflicts cause believers who should be working together in the great commission to have a “come-apart”. Our spiritual thumb is in our mouth when envy, strife, and division are perpetuated. Sometimes we foolishly take sides in disputes and act like – well, babies. Paul calls us on it! (From 1 Co. 3:1-9).  Read More