The Saul In Me 11/24/2021 - Everyone’s favorite redemption story, an Apostle, credited for writing almost half of the New Testament...it’s Paul, y’all! I can relate to Paul...a good redemption story, me too! Born again and wild for Jesus, me too! A new name, me too! But what about Saul? He just doesn’t seem like my kind of guy. I just can’t relate to terrorizing Jesus followers... Read more
Highlight Reel 11/17/2021 - Do you have a “highlight reel”? You know that video record of all your best plays, shining moments, greatest achievements, victories, etc., etc., etc. I literally have one. Now, I’m so old it’s on VHS tape (yes kids, a small “reel” of film which contains video images) and have no way of looking at it today since my last functional VHS player died over a decade-and-a-half ago of old age. The “tape” was generously compiled by a couple of my high school football coaches to help aid in getting me recruited to play quarterback at the next level. Now here’s the dangerous thing about my “highlight reel”-it’s just the highlights! Plenty of touchdown passes, but not one incompletion, and certainly not any of my record setting interceptions. Plenty of first downs gained but not one “3-and-out”. Plenty of victorious moments, but no record of crushing defeats anywhere to be found. The highlight reel, by definition, is intentionally deceptive. It seems odd that a football coach would recruit me, or anyone, based on images of just how good I was without knowing how bad I could be. It wasn’t the whole picture of who I was as a football player... Read more
Label Maker 11/10/2021 - When my oldest was little, I worked full time. I needed everything to be tidy and to have a home so my life would be easier. Even before Tristan could read, we made pictures of his toys to become labels for where they would go. A picture of an army guy for the action figure drawer, a picture of a car for where his matchbox cars would belong, etc. You get the idea...We do the same thing. We put labels on people... Read more
Power Packed Prayer 11/3/2021 - There have been times in my life that I have felt as though my prayer life is lacking. I have felt that I am doing it all wrong and many times I KNOW I am just going through the motions and “getting it over with.” I really do have a burden to pray. And if I tell you that I will pray for you I ABSOLUTELY do! But I wonder if God is sometimes just hearing “blah, blah, blah, blah” because I’m just not focused enough. Does that ever happen to you? If so, let’s take a minute and explore how we can truly have a power packed prayer life... Read more
Healing After the Pain 10/27/2021 - When I was a young Christian, I often heard it said: “They have been hurt by the church.” It was stated as an explanation to someone who seemed to have a chip on their shoulder when it came to church and all that church life entails. I was too young in my faith to understand it at the time, because after all, how could the church hurt someone? It wasn’t until years later I truly understood that statement and the significance it carried... Read more