I was reflecting the other day (which is something I seem to do a lot lately) on my life and the way God has used me to impact my two sons.   I have been an “intentional” parent.  I know all parents are intentional in what they do, but what I mean is that I have [...]

My life has changed.  In the past few years I’ve transitioned to someone who invests in others and I have people who actually seek my advice. I know that sounds egotistical (which would not be unusual for me), but I don’t mean it that way at all.  It’s just that at almost 45 years of [...]

“announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.”” so twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. Judges 7:3 NIV  
  
I can almost hear Gideon now, approaching the people with this one:  
” Okay now, listen up men, if any of you are just too afraid to do [...]

Don’t be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. Philippians 1:28 NLT
 

Of all the great promises in the Bible from God, probably one of the most repeated and clearly worded [...]

Our community group finished up Purpose Driven Life this week. I’ve been supplementing the text with my own questions from the material.  Here are the questions for Purpose Number 5.  What are your answers?
1.      If “you were made for a mission”, have you figured out yet what that is?
2.      What is your process of mission [...]

We are studying Purpose Driven Life together as a community group. Each week I ask questions pulled from the material in the book.  Here are the questions for Purpose Week 4. 
1. What does the statement “You were saved to serve God” mean to you?  Do you agree with it/understand it?
2. Do you agree with it/understand “You’re not [...]

After a break to do another study centered on our church’s desire to serve others, my community group went back to reading “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren this week.  In Session Three we offered some challenging questions to supplement the reading.  I think these questions are worth all of our consideration as followers of [...]

Some of the best success in my life has often come after times of the greatest failures of my life.  I have lived long enough to experience success and failure repeatedly.  When I have occasion to minister to those experiencing times of failure, I’m able to assure them with confidence that the failure they experience [...]

Today I was asked for advice on dealing with parents from someone close to the age of my children.  I also gained insight into my staff from someone much older than me.  Both were valuable encounters.
 
I need wisdom from those who have previously walked where I am walking now.  It has become apparent to [...]

Listening to Andy Stanley of Northpoint preach recently on providential relationships that impact our spiritual life reminded me of some of the men in my life who encouraged my spiritual growth the most. 
Dennis Newkirk was my pastor when I was in my early twenties and just beginning to get serious about my Christian life.  [...]