This past weekend I was driving through Frankfort, Indiana on Saturday and read a sign in front of a church on one of the town’s main roads.  It read, “Faith has no questions. Truth has no doubts.”I understand the idealism of such a sentiment, but it calls us all to the kind of rigid belief that not only can’t  be … Read More

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  –John 8:31-32As a pastor, I find myself addressing people’s sinful attitudes about sin all the time.  It’s because sin so distorts our own perspective and creates a self-justifying line … Read More

7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. –Matthew 10:7-8 What’s at the heart of what you seek to accomplish?  What is absolutely the essence of your life?  These are the kinds of questions I’ve been asking … Read More

You’ve probably heard the phrase “the new normal”.  It refers to how things have changed and often is applied to things that were once unusual, but now are so common, they are “the new normal”.After completing the 21 day fast, I’m left with my own feeling of “the new normal”.  I find that the fast helped me to step out … Read More

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  –James 5:16We have now arrived at the end of our 21 days of fasting and praying corporately.  I hope that you have found this special time of seeking God together rewarding and life-changing.The effective, fervent prayer…avails much.  Perhaps more important than any answer you have received or not, you will … Read More

43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.    “There is nothing there,” he said.    Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”    So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go … Read More

1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, … Read More

 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”  –Matthew 9:17 Just as old wineskins lose their flexibility with use and will not hold the fermenting activity of new wine, … Read More

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  –John 11:43 John’s unforgettable narrative of Lazarus’ death and resurrection is one of the most illustrations of the power of the spoken words of Jesus.  So perfectly aligned and matched with God’s will, Jesus knew already that the miracle he wanted to see happen was about … Read More

 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,    because the LORD has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,    to proclaim freedom for the captives    and release from darkness for the prisoners,2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor    and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,  3 and provide for those … Read More