Decision Tree

This past week has been fairly eventful in my little world.  We plan to leave in a couple days for our first out of state family trip in several years.  It’s not an extravagant trip, but it does take some planning as to when and where to go, coordinating hotels,...

Christ is Returning…

The question “what do you do for a living” is something of an occupational hazard when you are a pastor. The response of “I’m a pastor” can shut down a conversation, lead to a list of complaints about the Church, etc. With Christians, it can also lead to them...

Applying Forgiveness

As a preacher, my number one concern is not whether or not people enjoyed my sermon or “got something out of it” (whatever that means). Rather, my concern is whether or not they actually put the text into practice and followed Jesus in a deeper way. Now that we’ve...

Thank God

What is the simplest way to thank God?   Prayer is the simplest and surest way to convey appreciation to God. Sincere simple prayer, given from the heart and expressing your thanks for the wonderful life you have been given, will touch God deeply.

How to Calm Your Spirit

How to Calm Your Spirit Deep Breathing. Sit or lie down comfortably. Rest your hands on your stomach. Mindfulness Meditation on a Scripture Verse. Focus on your breath.  Visualization. Close your eyes, relax and imagine a peaceful place. Repeating affirmations. Sit...

Going Through the Motions

Even though I’ve been a Christian for 30 years, have advanced degrees in theology, and have been a pastor for 16 years, there are times when a scripture catches me by surprise. Genesis chapter four was recently one of these passages. This passage deals with an...