For the year 2021 we have chosen to focus on innovation as we pursue our essentials to make disciples. Our simple working definition of innovation is Trying Something New. We chose that term considering what we are facing with COVID-19. The author, Mick Murray, explains it this way: "Trying to lead an organization in this increasing VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ...

"Crazy times we're living in." I wonder how long people have been saying that. Likely, throughout mankind, some variant of this phrase has been on our lips. I was recently reminded of how easily we as Christians can look to our government as savior. We might not think we do but let's examine this together. When our political party wins, we rejoice and feel a sense of assu...

"So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" Joshua 18:3 In verse 3 Joshua was asking the tribes why they were putting off their instruction to go possess the land. Instead of fulfilling God's command to destroy the Canaanites, who by this time were weaken...

Lamentations 3:20Surely my soul remembersAnd is bowed down within me.21 This I recall to my mind,Therefore I have hope.22 The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,For His compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness.24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,"Therefore I have hope in Him."25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him...

We are all familiar with the notorious light on the dashboard of our vehicles that indicates "maintenancerequired." It could indicate something simple such as the air pressure being low on a tire, or it could besomething complex and costly. Recently the light on my spiritual dashboard came on. It indicated thatmaintenance was required regarding prayer. So I got out the "Ow...

Today I was in Philippians 2 where Paul encourages us to consider others as more important than ourselves and it made me realize how much of a struggle this is for most of us. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. We would all agree we should put others before ourselve...

"Meanwhile, the leading priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" The crowd shouted back, Barabbas! Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Matthew 27:21-22 The question that Pilate as...

Psalm 105:19"until what he had said came to pass,the word of the LORD tested him." 2020 to say the least has been a very interesting year. I am not saying anything that you do not already know. With that in mind, Psalm 105:19 stood out to me this week. Here is why I have never had any true health issues in the past until this year. My frustration is not so much the ups a...

We seemed to have survived another Presidential election process. Now we wait to discover the impact. Already reaction is mounting up via social media. One thing is certain; the moral compass of our country continues to drift downward, and no political scheme is going to reverse the situation. The Lord brought to my mind a remarkably simple but profound strategy to counte...

One of the symptoms of Parkinson's for me is that I will occasionally waken in the middle of the night with my mind racing with ideas. It has become a routine way that the Lord speaks to me. (No, I don't hear a voice) They could also be just my vain imagination or bad pizza, I call them ponderings until I can validate them by the Word and Godly counsel. Please consider and...