“For there is no partiality with God.” – Romans 2:11 The Bible tells us that children are a gift from God. How proud and happy we are when we look down in a baby’s face and see the miracle God has made! We become so attached to the little ones He has placed in our care! It becomes easy to think of them as only “our” children when they are loved by God as His own. Our desire should be to make sure they become His children through acceptance of Jesus as their personal Savior. God has … [Read more...]
Go to your happy place
I hate it when I’ve been cleaning the house all day long and then realize it’s only been fifteen minutes. I’ll admit, cleaning is not my happy place. Of course, I had five kids in seven years and “clean” has always been a bit...well…relative. Mostly because it would somewhat depend on which relative was doing the cleaning. Not that we allowed food in the kids’ rooms or anything [clearing throat], but I do remember having to say to a teen at least once, “Son. You have to clean your room. … [Read more...]
Jason Allen: Four reasons pastors should guard their hearts
Discouragement is not an emotion with which I am very familiar, but when a scandal comes out in the church, I feel it greatly. In fact, at times I have found myself not wanting to check social media, dreading to learn about the next scandal. When they come out, it is easy to find ourselves asking, “How could he…?”. Yet, upon sober reflection, we are reminded of how dangerous our sin nature truly is; and that Total Depravity is not just a theological point, but a malignancy within each one … [Read more...]
Homosexuality: Answering objections to Scripture
Christians often find it difficult to have meaningful conversations with people struggling with same-sex attraction. To a great extent, that’s our own fault for delivering biblical truth with a sledge hammer rather than with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). Even so, it’s hard to carry on a civil discourse when you’re accused of being a homophobe engaging in hate speech. What’s more, some LGBT supporters express such hostility toward Christians that they won’t listen to a biblical … [Read more...]
Pulpits and politics: Second American Renewal Project event to be held March 22-23
KANSAS CITY – “What role should pastors have in the political spectrum?” This question formed the basis for the Missouri Renewal Project Conference held in Kansas City on December 7-8. The event included special guest speakers such as Missouri Attorney General (AG) Josh Hawley, social critic Os Guinness, and numerous other pastors, political pundits, and historians. Training was also offered for Christian leaders considering running for public office. The conference was geared to encourage … [Read more...]
The fellowship of Christian stewards
Steve Otte led the youth ministry in my home church, First Baptist, Kahoka. He volunteered his leadership to a group of teenagers to introduce them to faith in Jesus Christ and grow in their relationship with the Lord. He became my example of what it meant to follow Jesus as a teen and then when I entered the ministry. I thank God every time I remember his influence in my life. Have there been people who have made an impact on your life? Are there people you respect who model ways you … [Read more...]
Reflections on putting your house in order
Every trip I make with Sharon to Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, I am reminded how important it is for people to “put their house in order.” This trip in particular seemed to have some really sick people held in the grip of some form of cancer. While we are very grateful for Sharon’s good report, we are reminded how terminal we all are. I hear of too many people with some kind of medical anomaly and it breaks my heart, as I know it does yours. The bodies our Lord created for His … [Read more...]
Prayer, deadbeat parents, hunting human traffickers
In recent years, I have had the privilege of praying at a variety of events at the State Capitol. Most have been traditional services, like the National Day of Prayer held on the first Thursday in May. Others have been in more private settings with individual lawmakers and staffers who work at the State Capitol. But I have to say I have never had the privilege of praying at an event quite like the “Keep Faith in America” service held Jan. 17 in The Rotunda of the State Capitol. What made … [Read more...]
‘Conversion: How God Creates a People’
Lawrence, Michael. Conversion: How God Creates a People. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 137 pp. $14.99. When people find out I’m a pastor, they often want to tell me about their relationship with God. These can be wonderful conversations; there are few things more encouraging than meeting people with an evident love for Jesus. More often than not, however, I leave those conversations discouraged. Many people identify as Christians but don’t seem to have any interest in Jesus or his church. … [Read more...]
Raising Christians to spiritual adulthood
Recently, a secular journalist wrote a book, called “Death of the Grown Up,” where she catalogued the shift in western culture over the last 10 years. The book has some fascinating statistics: • Nearly one out of three 30-year-olds have not left their parents’ home. • There are more adults today in America, ages 18-49, who watch Cartoon Network more than they watch CNN. • The average video gamester in 1990 was 18; today, it is 35 years old; many spend 20 hours a week playing. • The … [Read more...]
‘Taste and see the Lord is good’
I was more than a little worried that my new diet was going to be altogether too difficult. Oh, these meal plans. The first day went something like this: Meal one: 6 organic, conflict-free cashews and a teaspoon of orange peel, zested Meal two: 3 almonds, 4 banana strings and 2 medium-sized ice cubes For meal three, the instructions were to lick three carrots, read the label on a box of rice cakes and then stare long and hard at those jeans that once fit. A little harsh, right? Is … [Read more...]
Estate planning: Decisions that could last forever
By the time you read this many people who had made resolutions for the New Year have already broken them. Whether or not you made one, the New Year does provide an opportunity to make a decision that lasts forever. What decision’s impact might last forever? The decision you make about your estate, of course! Outside the decision to follow Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, the decision you make over the stewardship of your relationships and your possessions is the second most … [Read more...]
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