This worship, posted last week here in the Age of Corona, is beautiful. It demonstrates separation but the wonderous ability to transcend it. Technology isn’t always the answer, but in this case it is truly a gift of God. Here is “It Is Well with My Soul” from a cell phone choir: (A friend I shared the video with loved it but pointed out it doesn’t include her favorite verse: “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, / My sin,... Read more
I was asked a few days ago three questions related to our finances and needed perspective during these challenging times with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. Honestly, our needs as Christ followers right now are the same as they are in times of ease, plenty, and comfort. But suffering and difficulty can make our calling and purpose much clearer. Puritan Thomas Watson said, “God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity.” Let’s not waste... Read more
Many people, including many readers of this blog, are facing some level of financial uncertainty right now because of the coronavirus crisis. These are challenging times, and you may find yourself worrying, and wondering what the future might hold. I believe one of the best things we can do to find encouragement and perspective in times like these is to start by remembering God’s ownership. He Owns It All From beginning to end, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s ownership of everything:... Read more
Twelve days ago, together with my friends Greg Cahalan and Steve Keels, pastors at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, we recorded two messages for our church body. In our first video, which was part of a recent blog, we talked about the need for God’s people to have an eternal perspective by focusing on and studying Scripture. In this second video, we tackled some of the difficult theological and practical questions Christians may have related to the coronavirus crisis. I... Read more
Is it possible to overuse a verse of Scripture? Certainly it is easy to misuse a verse, and in the process be robbed of its true riches. Romans 8:28 is one of the best known verses in the whole Bible: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Did I say this was one of the “best known” verses of Scripture? Let me revise that statement. It is one... Read more
Last weekend I sat down with my friends Greg Cahalan and Steve Keels, pastors at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, and we recorded a message for our church body. For the first time in our 43-year-old history, with the exception of a few snowstorms, we were unable to physically gather. Just two days before the governor had banned all gatherings of over 250 people. Our pastors were scrambling and asked me to join them in opening God’s Word and... Read more
When our children were small, I was reading them a Bible story and an “important” phone call came from someone in the church. In fact, the call could have waited until the next day. So which was more important, taking that call, or finishing the story and praying with my children? I realized my error. From that day I determined I would never be pulled away from Bible story and prayer time with my children by anything less than a... Read more
As coronavirus cases continue to crop up across the U.S., many people are struggling with fear over the future. As followers of Jesus, what should our response be? Our brothers and sisters in China have been wrestling with the answer to that question for the last two months. One Chinese pastor wrote, “We are to seek peace for this city, seek peace for those who are afflicted with this illness, seek peace for the medical personnel struggling on the front lines,... Read more
God took physician Renee Lockey completely by surprise one day while she was out running. At the height of her career, she sensed that he was planting an idea in her head: “Work like a doctor and live like a nurse.” Renee now lives on a nurse’s salary and gives away the rest of her income. She says, “When we take this idea literally—that we are His—it results in a drastically different way of thinking and living.” While Renee’s colleagues... Read more
I recently had the privilege of visiting the Joni and Friends headquarters in Agoura Hills, California. I highly recommend that churches and families and individuals support this wonderful ministry, which was founded by Joni Eareckson Tada. She is the real deal, start to finish, and everyone I’ve met at Joni and Friends who serves with her is passionate about Jesus and about reaching people for Christ. It was delightful to sit beside Joni and her wonderful husband Ken, who I always rejoice... Read more
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