CREATING SPACE FOR GOD TO ACT THROUGH SOLITUDE, COMMUNITY AND MINISTRY

Dear Friends, Henri Nouwen (recently promoted to glory) wrote an insightful article on spiritual disciplines regarding solitude, community and ministry. He defined spiritual disciplines as “the effort to create some space for God to act” in us and through us … Continue reading

“YOU DO NOT HAVE MANY FATHERS” EXPERIENCING SPIRITUAL GROWTH THROUGH PERSONAL MENTORING

Dear Friends, "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel." (1 Corinthians 4:15) "We loved you so much that we were delighted … Continue reading

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6

Dear Friends, Kristen and I were recently blessed and challenged in our faith in seeing a Christian video on the life and ministry of Peter and Paul. The movie showed how Saul, the zealous Pharisee who was so proud of … Continue reading

WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU’VE MADE IN MY LIFE

Dear Friends, I just returned from a trip with Ken Boa, my friend, mentor and the president of our ministry. The trip had several purposes. One was to meet with some of the men and women who have influenced Ken … Continue reading

DON’T WRITE YOUR OWN STORY

Dear Friends, A father and his two young boys were flying on a crowded airplane and the boys were extremely noisy and rowdy upsetting all the passengers around them. Yet the father was oblivious to their behavior as he stared … Continue reading

THEN MEN BEGAN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD

Dear Friends, “Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the east coast be supplanted by (or accompanied by – my comment) the Statue of … Continue reading

ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR GOD? COME AND DRINK LIVING WATER

Dear Friends, My friend Rick gave me a video for Christmas filmed in Israel at En Gedi where fresh, clean, cool, spring-water flows into a pool from a spring north of the area. This is the area where David fled … Continue reading

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME RECEIVE HIM AS KING

Dear Friends, Christmas can be the saddest day of the year for many people. This is not a “bah-humbug” letter about Christmas or the commercialization of Christmas in America. I want to share what I feel is the true message … Continue reading

SCRIPTURE – THE KINDLING FOR THE CHRISTIAN HEDONIST

Dear Friends, Last month I mentioned John Piper’s book, Desiring God. Piper calls himself a “Christian hedonist” using a purposely radical term to describe a Christian who seeks pleasure (hedonism) and finds pleasure in God, not from God’s gifts to … Continue reading

“AND WE REJOICE IN THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD” ROMANS 5:2

Dear Friends, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36) “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” … Continue reading

LET’S ROLL!

Dear Friends, As we reflect on the attack of our country on September 11, 2001 we give thanks for the men and women who at the risk of their own lives took action to save the lives of others. Todd … Continue reading

LIVING EACH DAY IN LIGHT OF THAT DAY THE CHARACTER OF HEAVEN

Dear Friends, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth (today, in my life) as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) As I conclude this series on Heaven, Our True Home, I want to tie together some Scriptural perspectives … Continue reading

WHY THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT THE REALITY OF HELL

Dear Friends, Many unbelievers and, more recently some believers, including some theologians, deny the existence of hell. Yet if you take the words of Scripture seriously, hell is no illusion but a reality. As I continue the series on heaven … Continue reading

THE “CERTAINTY” OF HEAVEN – PART II “FAITH IS A PASSIONATE EMBRACE OF AN OBJECTIVE UNCERTAINTY” –SOREN KIERKEGAARD

Dear Friends, This month we’ll look at the remaining four signposts of truth as I continue the series on heaven which I began in January.* Signpost # 5 – The Existence of Miracles. The Judeo-Christian faith is grounded on the … Continue reading

THE “CERTAINTY” OF HEAVEN “FAITH IS A PASSIONATE EMBRACE OF AN OBJECTIVE UNCERTAINTY” –SOREN KIERKEGAARD

Dear Friends, My friend and associate at Reflections, Dr. Ken Boa, has written an excellent book on apologetics (the defense of the faith) entitled Faith Has Its Reasons. Those four words summarize the point I want to make in this … Continue reading

GOD IS SEEKING WORSHIPERS WHO WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (SEE JOHN 4:1-42)

Dear Friends, I’m interrupting my series on heaven to share a message on worship that the Lord has been speaking to my heart. One thought that comes to mind regarding worship is singing praise songs to the Lord which is … Continue reading