I confess…I’m a people watcher. I often notice the maturity and leadership potential of a person by simply watching them. A few weeks ago in Malaysia, I watched students from Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia and other Asian nations who were studying at the school where I was teaching. Many students believe they are called to [...]
Three weeks ago I sat on an airplane next to a man who told his story about growing up as a Muslim in Pakistan. While serving as a soldier in the Pakistan army, someone on the street told him about Jesus. The message of Jesus transformed his life, and today he travels the world telling [...]
When’s the last time you were misunderstood? It happened to Jesus all the time. When Jesus healed a blind man, both Jesus and the man who was healed were misunderstood. When the religious leaders asked the blind man if he thought Jesus was a sinner or not, he replied, “Whether he is a sinner or [...]
Did you ever feel like you made too many mistakes and the Lord can never really use you effectively again? I have good news for you. Our God is the God of the second chance. Look at Jonah. After running from God and being swallowed by a great fish, the Bible states, Then the word [...]
When we read accounts of spiritual revivals throughout history, the fear of the Lord is mentioned again and again. God’s conviction caused people to hate their sin and love Jesus with a passion. When we have a healthy sense of the fear of the Lord in our lives, we will not want to sin. “To [...]
When was the last time you heard a teaching on the fear of the Lord? It has probably been a while. We do not hear much about the fear of the Lord being taught in Christian circles today. The Bible tells us; “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). In [...]
When you and I get to heaven, all that will really count is the relationship we have with our God and the relationships we have with one another. Church buildings and church programs will crumble, but relationships last throughout eternity. The early church met “house to house” so they could experience family-type relationships to the [...]
When LaVerne and I were married, I worked on a construction crew. I learned quickly that the first step to building a house that will last is to put in a solid foundation. It was pretty simple to understand. Likewise, our Christian lives must be built on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. The Bible [...]
A few years ago a businessman sat in my office and shrugged in despair as he admitted, “I inherited my dad’s terrible temper, so I can’t help it when I blow up.” That same day a middle-aged woman told me, “My mother had terrible fears, and she passed them on to me. I guess I’m [...]
LaVerne and I were in Washington DC this past Memorial Day weekend. Thousands converged on our nation’s capital to remember their loved ones and grieve for those who gave their lives in combat. It was a moving experience. There is so much pain and loss all around us; families and marriages in crisis, those who have lost their jobs and homes, and business persons needing to liquidate due to a tough economy. You do not need to be a prophet to see that we are in a global economic crisis. But we need to have a proper perspective.