I long for peace; not peace merely expressed as in the absence of conflict, but the peace that is described by the Hebrew word, “shalom.” Shalom, translated most often as ‘peace,’ has a richer meaning including wholeness, completeness, prosperity, settledness… Continue reading

Those ‘personalized’ letters that come from some far-off credit card company that open with ‘Dear Jerry,’ as though they came from a friend, make me laugh out loud. The marketers that work to create the illusion of personalization recognize a… Continue reading

Yesterday, I was temporarily overwhelmed by human need. Everywhere I looked there were challenges, disappointments, and sins. The weight of it pressed on me as though a heavy burden was laid on my shoulders. As I conducted a Bible Study… Continue reading

Minkaye is a man who lived his entire life in the Amazonian jungle. Most of his life he lived just as his ancestors lived for a thousand years, with little awareness of the greater world. Then, the missionaries who lived… Continue reading

It is the Season called Advent, a time of preparation for Christ’s coming as our King. Yesterday I wrote about preparation. The question – does my life show honor for Him, preparedness for His coming – has stayed with me.… Continue reading

When a very important person (VIP) is coming to your town, there are preparations made. The streets are cleaned, bright banners are hung, and high school bands are tuned up so that that person is welcomed in a manner appropriate… Continue reading

Do you feel entitled, that is, having the feeling that something is your right, that it is owed to you? The entitlement mentality creeps up on us stealthily and becomes an ugly blot of darkness in us. When we don’t… Continue reading

When I was a very young preacher, I worked with a man for several months who was an encourager. Dave saw past the foolishness of immaturity and encouraged me to develop the ministry gifts God gave to me. There was… Continue reading

The Ten Commandments begin this way: “I am the Lord, your God, … worship no other gods; and do not make idols of any kind!” We think that means creating a new religion or carving a little figure and praying… Continue reading

OK, I’m going to state the obvious – bridges and walls are both necessary and both serve very different purposes. Walls divide. Bridges unite! In 1964, our family lived on Staten Island, NY. It was an exciting time for that… Continue reading