When I was involved in youth ministry, years ago, I used to tell the young people, “If you want friends, peace of mind, and things to work out in your life, come to Jesus. He will help you.” Many of the youth made a commitment to Jesus, but two months later they were back doing [...]
When I was in my mid-thirties, a popular song by an American pop singer contained the words: “God is watching us from a distance.” Unfortunately many people believe that concept of God. They see him as a distant, impersonal being, presiding over His creation disinterestedly. They think God seldom intervenes and only after our frenzied begging. Such a view is entirely incorrect. The [...]
A youth pastor almost drowned trying to save a fellow swimmer. The pastor had been trained as a lifeguard and felt confident of his ability to rescue his friend, a weak swimmer, who was swimming too far from shore. Both got caught in a dangerous undertow. My pastor friend began losing strength and panicked. He [...]
I love the story of former TV anchorman Tom Brokaw. As he wandered through Bloomingdale’s department store in New York City shortly after he was promoted to co-host on the Today Show, Brokaw noticed a man watching him closely. When the man approached him, Brokaw was certain the man was about to compliment him for [...]
Our competitive culture encourages us to maneuver and manipulate our way to the top. In contrast, the Bible teaches us that the opposite of selfishly pursuing desires is to receive humbly what God provides. I like what A.W. Tozer wrote in an article about humility. “I have met two classes of Christians: the proud who [...]
What is your calling? If you are uncertain, guess what! God has given you talents and gifts to help figure out your calling. Aristotle said, “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross lies your calling.” The Bible says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” [...]
Once while I was teaching a leadership-training seminar in Honolulu, Hawaii, I met a young man who had been sent out by his church a year before to plant a new church in a neighboring city. This church plant had reached many young people with the gospel—70 young people had given their lives to Christ [...]
Jesus constantly asked questions. He asked a religious teacher, “What is written in the law?’ and he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” (Lu. 10:26, Matt. 16:13) Spiritual mothers and fathers help those they mentor become self-disciplined and self-motivated so that they are not reliant on the pushing and prodding of [...]
God has called us to form partnerships with others to expand His kingdom. Paul the apostle told the Philippian church, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil. 1:3-5) [...]
I will never forget the experience of becoming a father for the first time. Although I had faithfully attended prenatal classes where I learned how to coach LaVerne through her labor, I hit the panic button when the contractions started. Reality hit me: We were going to have a baby! I wasn’t ready! I was [...]
