Living as His Ambassadors in the Face of Tragedy

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:15

A middle schooler so defeated by bullying that he shoots himself to death in his school. A grandfather who kills his daughter and his six grandchildren, then calls 911 to tell the dispatcher what he has done and promises her police will find him dead as well.

This is (more…)

A Family Likeness

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.—1 Corinthians 4:16

I never looked like anyone in my birth family. My mother had medium brown hair, dark skin and blue eyes; my sister was blond, blue-eyed and big-boned; then there was tiny little black-haired, green-eyed me. “You must be adopted,” I heard more than once—from extended family members, no less.

In fact, everything about (more…)

The Sin at the Root of Our Problems

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.—1 Corinthians 10:13

We have more than 200 trees and an untold number of bushes on our acreage. (more…)

Why I Hate Dress Shopping

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. – Romans 12:2

I’ve spent several weeks now hitting hard on our need for repentance, purity, prayer and sound doctrine. Today I’m taking a brief departure from matters of the heart to focus on how our culture has made it almost impossible to find (more…)

When the World’s Going to Hell in a Hand Basket

Wars and rumors of wars. Persecutions. Plagues. Disasters. I have to admit I’ve been having a bit of a tough time knowing how to pray for as I watch the world churn. And I can’t be the only one. And when I read that “all these are but the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), I find little consolation. If all (more…)