Missing Jesus On the Road
The month of July has extensive travel plans for ministry and family. During the month of July, I will be in Guyana, Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, DC, Pennsylvania, and New York. I look forward to each of these trips and
Limiting God’s Will
“Will you take an old lady with you to Haiti?” This question was asked of me at an event several years ago after I shared about Living the Adventure Ministries’ mission ministry in Haiti. She felt the Lord calling her
Out Of Our Comfort
“Where are we going?” “What are we going to do?” “When are we going to stop?” These are all questions my children have asked me when we have been preparing to travel or we are on the road to a
Wise Counselors
When I sensed God calling me to full-time ministry, the Lord used part of 1 Samuel 3:10 as the key verse: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” As I knelt at the altar of Epworth Camp, there were three men
Beatitudes Peacemakers 2024
At the end of a youth worship experience, I spoke the benediction over the youth in the room and stated, “Go in peace, not in pieces.” I may have heard another pastor speak this benediction in a previous worship experience,
Beatitudes—Merciful
Elisabeth Elliot wrote Through Gates of Splendor in 1957 recounting the experience of five missionaries who lost their lives at the hand of men from a tribe in eastern Ecuador. After the five men were killed, Elisabeth, along with her daughter Valerie
Beatitudes—Pure Heart
Gaining access to someone who is famous can be a lot of work. Whether it is purchasing a backstage pass for a famous singer or going through the process of background checks and applications to visit a world-leader, work must
Beatitudes—Meek
Be louder. Say more. Push against. Don’t give up. Make a scene. Get people’s attention. All these short and direct statements speak to our present cultural condition as we battle one another politically, theologically, and relationally. It seems the person
Beatitudes—Hunger and Thirst
A newborn child is unable to communicate with words and cannot obtain that which they deeply desire. They communicate through tears, coos, and screams when they need a diaper change, want extra cuddles, or are hungry/thirsty. In the early days
Beatitudes—Those Who Mourn
When I was an Associate Pastor, a young man in his 30s died after battling cancer. The Senior Pastor invited me to participate in the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service for the young man. In the pastor’s message at