My wife and I have friends who are living in their existing home as they build a new one. They must continue the upkeep and maintenance on one, while constructing the other. Both houses require their attention. In a similar fashion, you and I are living in a temporary home here on earth until we…

Underwater cave divers swim and wiggle through sharp, narrow, jagged crevices as they work their way through eerie, black water into the deepest, darkest, and most remote areas of a cave. What could the safety practices of one of the world’s most dangerous sports possibly teach us for our spiritual journey? To find out, I…

To vaccinate or not has become the great dilemma of our day. Once a person makes the decision to be vaccinated, they face another dilemma: should they encourage others to receive the vaccine or simply remain quite. Encouraging others to seek the vaccine is often met with strong resistance, and sometimes with animosity. Disinformation, misinformation…

What storms are you facing in your life? In what ways are you being tested? Do you sometimes feel as if God is distant from you? The Bible makes it clear that life comes with strife. It is foolish to assume we can journey through life without trials and tribulations. The question is, where should…

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent. Lent gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves for Easter. It is a great time to reflect on this powerful question: How am I enslaved?  What things, what forces, what desires, and what sins have control over me? In what ways am I living in…

We all know the phrase, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me”. It turns out that this is simply not true. It is especially not true when “words” come in the form of name-calling. There is clear evidence that if someone is called a derogatory name long enough, they…

The boxer was on the mat defeated. Stars swirled in his aching head. Sin had landed him on the mat with a one-two punch. He had momentarily lowered his guard and sin’s punches hit with lightning speed. As he regained consciousness, he reflected on his life. It had been a series of defeats and knock…

The Book of Genesis gives us many intriguing stories. One of those is the story of Jacob and Esau. Esau trades away his rightful inheritance to his father’s large estate to his younger brother Jacob in exchange for one bowl of red bean porridge. This action seems ridiculous. His father was a wealthy man. The…

Imagine for a moment, that you are standing in a long line of people. These sullen and downcast individuals are weary, having traversed a long distance to wait their turn. Not sure of what to expect, each person is prepared to acknowledge their transgressions, renounce their sins, and start life over. Standing with everyone in…

Jim Croce wrote the hit song, Time in a Bottle in 1970, the night he found out his wife, Ingrid, was pregnant. Just three years later, he was killed in a plane crash. The lyrics speak to the heart of every person. After all, who wouldn’t want to capture time and put an end to…