Tag Archives: faith

May 2021 Favor in Hard Places Part 1

Dear Friend in Christ: When the Lord leads us to a passage, it is not merely academic; His guidance is always preparatory. Back in February, I tried to cover Matthew 5:1-16 in one letter; I could not. In fact, books could be and have been written, but these are mostly. [...]

What Will the Righteous Do?

Publication:Pastoral Letter, February 2021 Dear Friend in Christ: Psalm 11 raises an important question: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). The verse prior tells us that the righteous are under attack. So, not only are the foundations removed, but those who stand up on. [...]

Lessons From Controversy and Chaos

Publication:Pastoral Letter, July 2020 Dear Friend in Christ: These are indeed serious times that present us with great controversy and too much chaos. How we respond to events in our nation and world is very important. Trusting the Lord for help, I will offer some ways to respond. Remember, spiritual. [...]

Our Refuge

Publication:Pastoral Letter, April 2020 Dear Friend in Christ: I often open my letters with a greeting: “I pray this letter finds you well.” I mean it sincerely every time, but I wish I could convey the depth of my heart when I say it to you now. Wherever you are. [...]

Peace On Earth

Publication:Pastoral Letter, December 2019 Dear Friend in Christ: Let me begin this special pastoral letter with a true story about a man named Henry. In the mid nineteenth century, he lived with his wife, Frances, and their five children, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tragedy struck this family in 1861, when an. [...]

Sitting Down or Standing Up

Publication:Pastoral Letter, August 2019 Dear Friends, I have been privileged to grow up among Christians and to minister in a wide variety of churches, from house churches to megachurches, in numerous denominations and cultures, in the United States and abroad. I have literally traveled millions of miles. No, I am. [...]

Downtown to Suburbs

Publication:Pastoral Letter, April 2019 Dear Friend in Christ: When I entered the ministry, the largest churches were downtown, on main streets, or on the city square, central to the culture. Now most large churches are in the suburbs, peripheral to the culture. The migration of churches to the suburbs is. [...]

From Chaos to Creation

Publication:Pastoral Letter, October 2018 Dear Friend in Christ: I want to share a principle with you that has been very helpful to me and others with whom I have ministered. The principle never fails, though we often we do. The good news is that when we fail, failure need not. [...]

Faith and Doubt

Publication:Pastoral Letter, August 2018 Dear Friend in Christ: I pray you are having a blessed Summer! I believe that life is defined by our response to God, His Word, and His Son, Jesus. We are accountable for that choice. That choice will determine the choices we make throughout life. In. [...]

Involved or Inert

Publication:Pastoral Letter, April 2018 Dear Friend in Christ, I pray this letter finds you well and enjoying a blessed Springtime! I believe this Pastoral Letter is especially timely, and trust you will find it inspiring. Let me say that my purpose is not to criticize but to stimulate us to. [...]

From Trials to Triumph

Publication:Pastoral Letter, March 2018 Dear Friends, I love the Word of God for so many reasons but primarily because I believe it is the Word of God and therefore it is true. It doesn’t gloss over the “nasty stuff” or deny us the great stuff. It gives us amazing promises,. [...]

The Long View or the Wrong View

Publication:Pastoral Letter, February 2018 Dear Friend in Christ: I began the New Year reading the book of Genesis, the book of “beginnings.” The principles that played out in Genesis run through the entire Bible. Among those principles is God’s purpose for the entire world. One aspect of His purpose is. [...]

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