I talked with a man in the hospital room where his wife lay dying. He was 78 years old and teary eyed as he tried to explain his feelings to me with rhetorical questions of how did life move so quickly from youth to old age, from a busy thriving life to an aching slow pace, and now coming face to face with death. He was a follower of Christ his whole life and a … Continue reading →
Today is day 12 of students gathering in their chapel at Asbury University and personal prayer and worship is continuing strong. The public has begun making trips to visit for themselves, traveling from out-of-state, and local government has had to address the overwhelming crowds swallowing up the small city that Asbury is in. I have found this revival amazingly refreshing because it is absent of hype, persuasion, and leaders who one would expect to be … Continue reading →
I have been following with great interest the spiritual revival that is currently taking place at Asbury University in Kentucky. In case you are unaware, the students met for their regular Wednesday morning chapel service on February 8th and they are still meeting. I am seeing pictures on social media and reports that students, faculty, and people from the community are coming and going while all participating in prayer, worship, and Scripture reading. Some are … Continue reading →
This is not something new for me to say, but I think worship — the way we worship — is very much dependent on our culture. On any given Sunday morning we’ll find churches with various formats to their worship programs. Some are very liturgical and some are very laid back. Many years ago this thought was shared with me by a missionary who was home in the states on furlough. The missionary was working … Continue reading →
I’m trying to think about what’s ahead in this new year and I’m drawing a blank. I’m finding that I can’t think much beyond what’s on my schedule for the coming week. I’m not finding the energy or the motivation to optimistically set goals or lay plans that will pave the way for higher levels of accomplishments this new year. In years past, when I was younger and more career ambitious, I would spend more … Continue reading →
Today I turn 60-years old. I know it’s a big milestone in life, but at the moment I am not finding it as depressing as I thought I would when I considered this day in years past. As I wrote before, turning 50 was an emotionally difficult thing for me because it kind of took me by surprise. I have expected the same reaction to turning 60 but it hasn’t happened. Probably because I have … Continue reading →
While I was serving as the pastor of CrossHope Chapel for 12-years, I was frequently called “Pastor” and even referred to myself as “Pastor.” Why? Because that was my role and the title my church used to address that and respectfully recognize that. The use of the word “Pastor” was a title for my role. Now biblically speaking the word is meant more as a spiritual gift one might have than a title of a … Continue reading →
There is one Former Seventh-day Adventist Facebook group that I still follow, probably because it’s not as angry as the majority of these groups are. Although it has recently occurred to me that it too has the one or two critics who have found their fame in their anti-SDA cause. Over the years I have joined about all of these groups and ended up un-joining them because of the constant over-the-top expression of hate by … Continue reading →
For nearly 12-years CrossHope Chapel was an informal, simpler expression of church, where one could encounter the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, engage others in authentic New Testament fellowship, and be encouraged through the verse-by-verse study of the Bible. It was the open study of the Bible that was probably the mark of CrossHope Chapel as a church fellowship. Opening to a selected book of the Bible and reading chapter by chapter then discussing … Continue reading →
Happy Independence Day! I share with you an insightful statement from 1906, found in today’s Maranatha devotional by E.G. White. The statement speaks in support of patriotism and against political deconstruction. Enjoy… “The Lord has done more for the United States than for any other country upon which the sun shines. Here He provided an asylum for His people, where they could worship Him according to the dictates of conscience. Here Christianity has progressed in … Continue reading →
On this day, Mother’s Day, I always think of a verse in the epistle of Paul to Timothy. The chapter includes some instructions to the young pastor about caring for widows and it is in the middle of this that Paul writes in regard to women as “known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children” (1 Timothy 5:10, NIV). That seemingly casual reference is a huge insight into how God perceives motherhood. What … Continue reading →
In my youth I often had older people tell me that time flies as you age. In recent years I have come to believe that, because I feel like I have been caught off guard on the ending of 2021. This year is over. A new one starts in just two days. As I was thinking about this Romans 13:11 came to mind, which states, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high … Continue reading →
The Christmas season is an opportunity for us to reflect on the first advent of our Savior, even though we may not buy into it as a religious celebration. Since leaving Catholicism I have lost a sense of obligation to celebrate Christmas with religious significance or requirement. There is no biblical command to celebrate the Savior’s birth, no certainty in the timing of the event, and Christmas has certainly become a cultural celebration. However, I … Continue reading →
Yesterday I turned 59 years old and I wasn’t feeling good about it. I took my 50th birthday hard, because I realized that 50 years of my life just filtered through my hands like grains of sand at the beach. Turning 59 was not as bad for me as when I turned 50, but I am wondering about my next birthday. I’m already thinking about my next birthday when I turn 60. I’m expecting that … Continue reading →