April 12, 2017 If we did not have the Book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament, our view of Jesus’ close friends would be less positive. We know them as Apostles, courageous leaders whose commitment to Jesus drove them to a willingness to die rather than deny Him. But that is not […]
“More Joy – Less Regret” Read More »
April 5, 2017 Easter makes me think of miracles. It is impossible to have Resurrection Morning apart from a miracle. Jesus’ life and ministry is all about miracles, but people can doubt this if they desire. His virgin birth is a miracle, but some say it could not be true. In three years of ministry,
“Because It’s A Miracle” Read More »
March 22, 2017 I hear a lot of comments about young people in America, and much of the time, it is not complimentary. “Entitlement” is the buzzword used to describe them. Whatever fancy definition we give this word, I think it means “I deserve this” or “I have a right to this.” Carried a step
“Too Much and Too Easy for Too Long” Read More »
March 15, 2017 The title of this “Ponder” comes from a song in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Surely no one would question why the hard-working father with five daughters would dream of how his life might be different if he had a lot of money. His meager income as a dairyman hardly met expenses, but
“If I Were a Rich Man” Read More »
March 8, 2017 Property developers try to save the landscape, but if a tree gets in the way, it usually is removed. During recent years, I have observed this process as some acreage that used to be farmland is being prepared for a housing development. There were sizeable trees growing there, but last week they
“For the Sake of Progress” Read More »
March 1, 2017 Growing up in Colorado, I understand the significance of cold and snow. While unusual, I remember snow falling on both Labor Day and Memorial Day. Do the math on that and you have a long winter. January was usually rugged, but when February arrived, the hours of daylight increased noticeably and our
“Small Encouragements” Read More »
February 22, 2017 In a culture that often focuses on the fast and temporary, it is good to think about things that have lasting value. A quick return is not always the best investment. Financial advisors remind us to consider a longer-range perspective, because even if the growth process seems slow, it often returns more
“Long-Lasting Benefits” Read More »
February 15, 2017 There is something refreshing about a person who has consistent self-discipline. Most likely they do not talk about it – we become aware of it by observation over time. Their life habits are consistently positive and their influence is quiet but forceful. Galatians 5:23 uses another descriptive word with the same idea:
“Self-Discipline with Discretion” Read More »
February 8, 2017 Ours is a busy and fast-paced culture. Unless we deliberately plan our schedule, we will find someone else doing it for us. While each of us has the same number of minutes in a day, we often allow another person or event to keep us from living a joy-filled life because we
“Taking Time to Live” Read More »
February 1, 2017 A beautiful description of Jesus is found in John 1:14: “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” I cannot think of a person more desirable to be around than one who is
“Truth with Grace” Read More »
January 18, 2017 “Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!” is a statement from Psalm 126:3 in The New Living Translation. The context is the return of Israel’s captive people to Jerusalem. They were singing, filled with laughter and realizing that the surrounding nations understood this was a work of God.
January 11, 2017 John chapter 17 records the prayer of Jesus, sometimes called the “Farewell Prayer” or the “Priestly Prayer.” It is filled with comfort, challenge and encouragement. In a recent look at this Scripture, I noticed something in a new way. In verse 5, Jesus said: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own
“Before the World Existed” Read More »