Great joy watered with many tears Does having only one daughter make it that much harder when she marries? Or is it just the father-daughter connection we enjoy? Perhaps being the first girl in our family to marry adds to it. The emotional shell shock thunders and echoes louder and longer than I ever imagined. [...]

Faith is being sure of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see. By faith we know that God made the visible from the invisible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. By faith we know that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Faith takes courageous action, [...]

The days are falling like hours racing to the Day! O God, slow down the days that I might relish every moment with Melanie; emotions are still rising ever higher and more intense in my soul – a simple picture from years ago; a little girl now grown; laughter and hugs; smiles and frowns; dresses [...]

Watch this sermon Sermon Outline and Discussion Qs Series Study Guide Matt. 28:16–20

External stressors expose internal weaknesses. The stress of illness, job loss and major change reveal soul weaknesses that then generate internal stress, leaving one open to temptations from the enemy. As an immune system can be depressed so can our spiritual defenses be weakened and yet no excuse remains for sin. So put on spiritual [...]

Authority is scary and comforting. It draws salutes and raspberries. What about a person who carries “all” authority, not just in this region, but in the entire earth and beyond? How do I respond to that level of authority? Do I submit? Do I resist? What’s the correspondence between an external response and internal feelings? [...]

Watch this sermon Sermon Outline and Discussion Qs Series Study Guide Luke 24:13-35

Romans 1 I love how Paul identifies himself: “A servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Every believer can identify themselves with the first and third designations: I am a servant of Christ, set apart for the Gospel of God. This Gospel is the one [...]

Judges 13-16 Samson Oddly, I am encouraged that God would use a man as mixed up as Samson. Life is messy. God uses broken people. He can use me, and you. God used Samson, in his blunders, to execute his plans. He called Samson and filled him with his Spirit and yet Samson cavorted with [...]