Hey friends, here’s a provocative devotional thought by the late Bible teacher A.W. Pink that I’ve gone back to many times over the years. I’ve been thinking on it afresh in recent weeks and I hope it brings perspective and strength to you today as well: “Ponder the incident; visualize the scene before your mind’s eye. It was not an … Read More
Reflections on Prayer and the Victims of Trauma, 1 of 2
1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? … Read More
Churches & Pastors: Toxic or Trustworthy?
If you’re a regular subscriber and missed getting the blog last week, I’m sorry about that. I was a bit overwhelmed with some other projects and deadlines which I’ll explain. It was my first time to skip a week since starting in June 2016! As I shared in a recent bi-monthly ministry update, I’m getting ready to do a soft … Read More
Healing Our Divide
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Jesus (Matthew 5:9, NIV) In the evangelical, pro-life culture I serve in, I have some of the best of friends. Politically, we don’t always see eye-to-eye; in fact, sometimes it can seem like we’re on different planets. BUT… we love and trust one another and, post-election, we’re trying … Read More
Heaven’s Proud Reward and Crown, Part 3 of 3
“But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our … Read More
Finding Peace in a Global Pandemic
So much has happened these last few weeks and things keep changing every day! Praying for all of us to stay safe, flexible, and know how to navigate our responsibilities and callings in the coming days. The practical angst related to an incredulous lack of toilet paper aside, the more difficult quest for most of us is the search for serenity… Be … Read More
What I Learned from Megan Phelps-Roper
Although I’m sad that Megan doesn’t pray anymore, I get it given her upbringing, and I learned a ton from Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving Westboro Baptist Church. Westboro Baptist…yeah, they’re the ones with the website godhatesfag.com—the ones that for years have held up vile signs in the name of God and even protested at military funerals. Megan, … Read More
The Undervalued Spiritual Act of Keeping Kids Safe
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. –the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 1:5, NLT) My grandmother wasn’t Lois, but my mom was and she’s associated with my earliest spiritual memory. I was three and at Bushkill Falls, … Read More
Focus for Fall: Big Lessons from Small Creatures, Part 3 of 5
Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, … Read More