You may feel like God is angry and mean when you read particular Bible passages. The story of Job in the Old Testament is designed to renew our heartfelt image of a loving God. Job was one of the most righteous people in history. It seems he’s especially blessed by God with health, wealth, and…
The warmth of God’s presence can be elusive. In his secret journal, Henri Nouwen is vulnerable about a dark season in which he couldn’t feel God’s love. He’d helped millions of other people around the world into a more tender and intimate experience with God, but he was in a Dark Night of the Soul.…
I spent two weeks in a class with twenty pastors at a monastery, taught by Dallas Willard. The foundation of his teaching was on spiritual reality. Teaching that God is Spirit, that we’re eternal beings, and that the Kingdom of God is spiritual, might not sound like anything new. And yet, learning to really appreciate…
Christmas isn’t all happy. Trying to make it that way actually diminishes our enjoyment and meaning of this sacred season. Consider the first Christmas. The backdrop is that God’s people go four centuries without hearing a word from God. When God finally speaks, Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) refuses to believe it and is struck…
The psalms tell us to enter into his gates with thanksgiving and praise. However, sometimes it’s not always easy to give thanks. Especially if we are going through tragedies, trials, and conflict. Join Bill and Kristi as they share on how we can find the goodness of the Lord in the midst of life’s challenges and unwanted circumstances.
It was a defining moment when I faced my fear of failing and looking foolish in the most important purpose of my life. Before I tell you that story let’s chat a bit about success and failure. We all want to be a success. We want to make a positive difference for God and for…
One Sunday in a small town church families are worshiping God together with children playing and dancing happily. The next Sunday a madman shoots half those people, killing 26. That was the scene at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas two days ago. November 5, 2017 marks the deadliest church shooting in US history.…
When I was a young adult, I read in the Bible, “Do not be anxious about anything”—and immediately I felt more anxious! Has that ever happened to you? I thought, What’s wrong with me? I’m a Christian, but clearly not a good Christian. I’m not supposed to be anxious — and I’m basically anxious all the…
Kristi and I have been praying for people who were impacted by the hurricanes. In church this week we sang: “He loves like a hurricane. I am a tree bending beneath the waves and winds of his mercy.” (From “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan) Is this true? Is this good to sing? It…
Often we are afraid to hope and be disappointed. But without hope we have nothing! All good things come from hope. Hope is the anticipation of God doing something good for you. The Bible says hope is the spring for faith and love (Colossians 1:5). Also, “Hope is an anchor for your soul” (Hebrews 6:19).…