I left the door to our backyard open recently for fresh air while I was working on a sermon at our kitchen table. Suddenly a little bird flew past me from our kitchen as it tried to get out through a window. I opened a side door and tried to shoo the little guy outside. He was afraid of me and kept…
Read moreWhat's going to change?
In July, I was sitting in Kristina’s hospital room with our three adult children and Philip’s wife, Moriah. We were all still stunned by Kristina’s heart stopping three times and the subsequent miracle the Lord did to restore her life. Her life support tubes had been removed and Kristina…
Read moreA Messy Miracle of Mercy - July 2017
My wife, Kristina, has had heart troubles since she had untreated strep throat, Asian flu, pneumonia and scarlet fever as a child. These illnesses left her with myocarditis and pericarditis. Her parents were alcoholics, and Kristina and her younger brother, Kirk, were often neglected. She was told by…
Read moreStruggles with God and Men - May 2017
In January David Stockton and I completed a one-year transition period at Living Streams. David is now leading our church and I serve on the pastoral team alongside him. This is the first time since 1976 that I have worked in a church led by another pastor. It has been…
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Everthing Falls into Place Eventually
Kristina dropped me off at the airport for a flight to Oakland last month. She was coordinating a medical clinic in Mexico for the weekend. I was traveling to California for Jon Riley’s ordination service, a family dinner, a pastor’s meeting, and a hike. We arrived early so I could enjoy the…
Read moreStumbling into Health
Late one afternoon last month, I returned from my office exhausted. I tried to take a quick nap, but my left shoulder began to throb, making sleep impossible. I had hurt it lifting weights or sleeping in the wrong position. I wanted to have my physical therapist friend Steve take a look at it.
Read moreRedemptive Pain - December 2016
On a cold December evening, the fire in our fireplace was burning down, so I stepped out our patio door and lifted a pecan log out of a nearby wheelbarrow. As I walked back in toward our fireplace, I felt a sharp sting in my ring finger. I threw the log on the embers, which burst into flames.
Read moreNovember 2016 - Presidential Qualities
I have enjoyed studying the lives of several of our presidents. Each of them possessed character qualities that impress me. In light of our recent election, I want to mention some of these qualities.
Our Founding Fathers had many political disagreements. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,…
Read moreOctober 2016 - We are Here for Such a Time as This
I have been praying for the Lord to shine light on our political candidates so we can make wise judgments when we vote. Recently, I’ve been tempted to say “That’s enough Lord. We’ve seen enough!” I remind myself Jesus is the head over all rulers and authorities…
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