In Part 1 of this series, we talked about three common mistakes I have made when reading the Bible and how my relationship with God benefitted when I corrected those things. The first mistake I made was approaching Scripture with a lens for myself instead of a lens for God. … Read More

Though I’d grown up in the church and had earned my share of Scripture memory badges in Sunday School, I was an adult before I realized I didn’t actually understand much of the Bible. I knew how to pull out a verse of encouragement when I needed hope, and I… Read More

For years I struggled with Bible reading. Not only was Scripture challenging to understand, but that challenge also left me with a lack of desire to read it. Every day I felt defeated before I even started; and most days I didn’t start at all.  I eventually learned that… Read More

The Bible is not merely a magnificent book written over hundreds of years by a variety of people in a variety of literary styles. It is God’s Word and it teaches us about his character, how to live according to his laws, and how his redemptive plan makes sense of our… Read More

When I was a kid, I looked for Waldo. That guy with the red hat, red-striped shirt, and hipster looking glasses. He was elusive, but I was Sherlock. I would scan the overcrowded picture from top to bottom, left to right, and look for anything that was red. Some pages… Read More

After nearly 30 years of pastoral and missionary ministry I had read many books, always interested in the latest contribution of the popular writers on pastoral ministry, Scripture engagement, and evangelization. During my last three years of active pastoral ministry, I made a commitment to read only writers that… Read More

This two-part series explores the mystery and wonder of the Christmas story from the perspective of angels. This Christmas, as we gather with family, sing Christmas songs, and open presents under our trees, we might find an angel ornament hanging from a branch or perched at the top of… Read More

This two-part series explores the mystery and wonder of the Christmas story from the perspective of angels. Each year, I try to keep the Christmas story fresh by approaching it from a different perspective. This year, join me in considering the version in the Gospel of Luke from the perspective of… Read More

A lion used to prowl about a field in which four oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of… Read More

“We’re living in the end times.” My friend’s eyes matched her tone: fearful. “Why do you say so?” I asked. She listed reason after reason: political crises, world events, cultural climate, devastating hurricanes and wildfires, immorality. It was a list mired in anxiety and dread. Nothing she… Read More