Latest Entries

Stress is a natural part of life, challenging us in ways that promote growth and adaptation. However, chronic stress without recovery can have serious negative effects on our physical and mental well-being.

Embrace the light of heaven and let its promise fulfill your deepest longings. Trust its voice, and by grace you will stand.

Last night I had a dream within a dream. As is often the case with dreams, many of the details have already faded. Yet one part remains vivid in my mind. In the first dream, there was some message or certainty that Jesus was returning on Wednesday. Today is Monday, so in the dream there was a strong conviction that His return was only two days away. Then I awoke—but only into another dream. In this second dream, a question immediately arose: What am I going to do between now and Wednesday? What would I do with the time I… Read more: What am I going to do between now and Wednesday?

I started reading Revelation today and was struck by a statement that repeats itself seven times – once for each of the seven churches talked about in the first couple chapters of Revelation.  The section for each church talks about what will be done for “the one who is victorious.”  A portion of each of these statements is below. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life . . . The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. To the one who is victorious, I… Read more: The One Who is Victorious

In the book of Joshua, chapter 9, is the story of Joshua and the Gibeonites.  The story goes like this.  The children of Israel had finally entered the land of Canaan after wandering through the wilderness for 40 years learning to trust in God.  In a mighty display of power, God dried up the flooding Jordan river allowing his people to cross it and then gave them victory over the cities of Jericho and Ai.  The Canaanites were all afraid of Israel. In Exodus 34:15, God had told Israel to “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who… Read more: Inquire of the Lord

Cain and his brother Abel each brought a gift to God. Cain brought the best of his crops. Abel brought the best of his flocks. God was not pleased with Cain’s gift but was pleased with Abel’s gift. Cain was therefore jealous of Abel and decided to kill his brother. God then punished Cain for his actions. This is a story I have heard since I was young. The obvious lesson is “thou shall not murder.” However, the circumstances around the gifts which each brother brought has a much deeper lesson about our relationship with God. At first glance, it… Read more: The Works of His Hands

There are two people listed in the bible who were taken directly to heaven without having experienced death. Elijah and Enoch. But although Elijah is extensively discussed, Enoch gets only three brief mentions (1). That by itself fascinates me. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him (2).” Wow. To walk in such close fellowship with God that one day he’s just taken away. It’s mentioned almost in passing amidst a seemingly boring genealogy. But my mind is left wondering – what happened in those 365 years? Granted, people… Read more: Enoch

I love airports. I’m fascinated by sitting and watching people. Airports bring people from every culture, background, and circumstance. Every multitude of emotion can be seen. There’s the mother sitting next to me bent over her baby in it’s stroller. She’s smiling, filled with joy, laughing and babbling as she plays with her child. There’s the businessman running frantically while dragging his carry-on behind, trying to reach his gate in time. There’s the Asian lady to my left laid back in her seat trying to catch a moment to eat a meal. Another woman behind me crying and speaking in… Read more: What’s Your Coloring Book?

It was one of those times when you feel like you’re the hero of an action movie. You know, when he’s being held captive and the world is only seconds away from being destroyed. Everything seems to be going bad; the crisis has come. This time though was without the drama of a daring escape, a massive gun battle, followed by the inevitable destruction of the evil hideout. A group of us were setting up sound equipment for a late evening time of worship in my university’s cafeteria only we didn’t get near the time we wanted because we had… Read more: God in a Music Stand

It’s Sunday morning when I walk up to a store front church next to Diary Queen. As I step through the door with guitar in hand, gentle praise music from a CD player fills the white cinder block room. A wooden stage runs the length of one side of the room with a full band complement of drums and guitars. I move to set my instrument down in the corner and notice a young woman in front of the left side of the stage, hands folded and head reverently bowed. She seems to be intensely focused on something. My eyes… Read more: All Consuming God

There’s this new fast food restaurant in the town I live called White Castle. It isn’t much different than any other fast food restaurant – burgers and fries and such.  The only thing that really makes them stand out is the fact that all of their sandwiches are square instead of round.  Well, ever since the day that they opened, there has been a line of cars starting at the check out window, going around three sides of the building, out to the road and then out to the center turning lane of the main road.  In fact, there have… Read more: White Castle

“Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls.” Isaiah 26:8 Purpose Through this Bible study, I want to gain a greater understanding of who God is and how I relate to Him. 12/11/05 – Indeed Synonyms are “certainly, really, undeniably, definitely, in reality, in fact”.  Something important, something that is 100% reality, is about to be said.  Also indicates it is following up on what was said previously in the verses.  Intense passion for God on the part of the writer. … Read more: Isaiah 26:8 – one word Bible study