“Blood is thicker than water.” I’ve given that proverb a lot of thought for a long time. The saying goes back hundreds of years and means that the bonds of family are stronger than those between friends. I know plenty of people (those who have messy relationships with their families of origin) who would argue with that opinion at even …

“How’s the condition of your heart?” What would happen if you asked that question as an icebreaker before your next study? What if you asked it before a conversation with your kid? What if you asked yourself, “What’s the condition of this person’s heart right now?” even before sharing the gospel with someone? I love the story Jesus told about …

I feel a need to comment on my own post from February 24, “Just to Be Close to You.” I wrote that devotional based on Exodus 24 where Moses and the Israelite leaders climbed the mountain and worshiped God. There is a danger here if you read too much into this. Even as I wrote it I tried to be …

I am often frustrated by the fact that even though I want to be a leader after God’s own heart, I can’t quite carry it out as I want to. I desire to be closer to him, abiding in a daily, intimate, rich relationship with God, but it seems I can only get so close. It’s not God–he has drawn …

I came across a couple verses buried in the middle of a bunch of Old Testament laws this morning that broadened my understanding of Jesus. It’s quite remarkable: “See, I am sending my angel before you to lead you safely to the land I have prepared for you. Pay attention to him, and obey all of his instructions…. He is …

I’m working from our kitchen table today, but it’s not easy to focus. Every so often, I look out the glass sliding doors into our back yard and watch the snow coming down. It really is awe-inspiring to watch as it covers the tree branches with its winsomely white artistry. (Picture at right taken by my wife, Heidi) I stopped …

The secrets to living life to the full can be found in the wilderness. It was there at Marah that the Lord laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him: “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, …

I’m glad 2009 is over. It was a very difficult year for me. I won’t go into all the particulars here, but as I look back now, I’d say it was a year of battle. At times during the year I found myself on the front line of an intense spiritual war in my marriage, job, family, finances, and other …

Today I celebrate a most amazing and awesome Event … the Event of all events … the Creator of the universe made himself nothing and took the form of human flesh, a baby, a humble servant, a sacrifice for our sins, so that you and I may not perish but have eternal and abundant life. I’m not celebrating Jesus’ birthday …

I was thinking this morning about a perspective on Christmas I had never really considered before this year. When Jesus was born, it was as if God was sending his Son into the enemy’s territory to do battle–battle for our souls. Peace on earth, goodwill to men will come in time. But now there is a spiritual war taking place, …