WHATEVER THE STORM HE IS LORD OF THE STORM IF HE SENDS IT TO HIS CHILD, HIS PURPOSE IS ALWAYS GRACE IF HE ALLOWS IT FOR HIS MYSTERIOUS PURPOSES, HE HAS AN ULTIMATE PLAN FOR GOOD Over the next two weeks let us consider three kinds of storms: Daily storms we experience when we cling to idols Monster storms we experience when we cling to idols Storms we do not understand 1. DAILY STORMS WHEN WE CLING TO IDOLS Last week “Laura-dancer” honestly answered the question: “When do you flee from God?” with: “Wow — probably daily.” Rebecca vulnerably shared the jealousy she felt when a new young worship leader was so talented — but quickly, she realized her … [Read More]
COLTON DIXON, BRIDGET JONES, JONAH, AND ME
THE BOOK OF JONAH NEVER USES THE WORD SIN BUT IT’S ALL OVER THE BOOK: A BETTER PICTURE FOR MODERN MAN A PENETRATING DEFINITION FOR YOU AND ME INSTEAD OF SEEING SIN AS “BREAKING THE RULES” IT IS A “SELF-SALVATION STRATEGY” IT IS FINDING YOUR IDENTITY YOUR MEANING IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD Many of you are not viewers of American Idol, and you are certainly free in Christ not to watch. :>) (If anyone should feel the need to explain herself — it’s me! The talent God gives the young amazes me — and I feel free in Christ to tape it and watch the parts I like and discuss the talent and drama with my daughter Sally! After … [Read More]
TWO WAYS TO FLEE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
Why would one ever flee from the presence of the Lord? Away from hope and into despair? Away from light and into darkness? Why did Jonah? And why do we? We do it when our deepest desire is for something other than God. What did Jonah want more than God? You don’t really discover the answer until the end of the book, but there was something that was more important to him than serving God, than loving God, than experiencing the presence of God. Did Jonah love God? I can imagine him preparing a defense, saying, “For twenty-five years I’ve gone to Temple…for twenty-five years I’ve kept the rules — for twenty-five years I’ve prophesied your Word…” But did he … [Read More]
EVANGELISM AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (PRELUDE TO JONAH)
It was a Friday night in mid-winter, and Steve was troubled about a patient. “She’s a sweet woman named Mildred and I think she has but a few days before she faces God. I sent her home today for there’s nothing more medicine can do for her. I’ve gone into her room several times in hopes of sharing Christ with her, but her husband is always there and always talking non-stop.” “What are you going to do?” “How would you feel about driving to their farm with me to visit tomorrow?” “What about the talkative husband?” “I’ll ask him to show me his barn, and while we’re out at the barn, you can share the gospel with her.” “Hmmmm,” I … [Read More]
IDOL LIES (New Title, New Cover!)
So many of you have joined the journey we have been traveling these last two years. We have come to think of Jesus as “The Stonecutter” who reveals, removes, and replaces the hidden idols of our hearts. Many of us felt that had to be the title of the book that is scheduled for release in October. When I met with my publisher I was asked if I would be open to another title, and I said I would be if they could find a better one, but I felt an anointing on The Stonecutter. Yet if there is one thing I have learned in this journey on seeing our heart idols, it is that my predominant heart idol is … [Read More]
AN EXPLOSION OF JOY: I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
AFTER THE DARKEST NIGHT THE BRIGHTEST DAY CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE THE JOY? I know how I would feel if Steve came back to me — or how Chris would feel if her son came back — how so many of you would feel to have one you so loved and lost walk through the door… I even dreamed it would happen — before each daughter’s wedding. But for me it was the fruit of denial, for I will not see Steve until that great day — but I will see him, because as Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) And I love that He also said, “If it were not so, I … [Read More]
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE…
IT IS HOLY WEEK A WEEK TO TRY TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR US HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO WILLINGLY LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS LAMBS IN ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS VERSES OF SCRIPTURE WE ARE TOLD: HE IS THE LAMB OF GOD SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Revelation 13:8) THE INNOCENT LAMB OF GOD THE HOURS JESUS SUFFERED ON THE CROSS (9 to 3) WERE THE SAME HOURS THAT THE PASSOVER LAMBS WERE SLAIN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER Because this is holy week, we will do the lesson slightly differently. I want you to abide each day, and I’ll give you small … [Read More]
I AM THE TRUE VINE
I was six, and my family was spending Easter weekend in southern Indiana with my father’s family. Sunday morning we were headed to Sunday School and church. Cousin Susie told me I would LOVE Sunday School — I wasn’t so sure – I was nervous going to a strange church. But oh — I did! To this day I still remember two things: the absolute warmth of the teacher (she hugged me right away!) and the little plant we each got to pot and take home as our very own. She told us to put them in the sun, water them, and watch! From this little plant would spring little branches, and more leaves, because it was ALIVE, just like … [Read More]
BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM
She’s an instructor at Curves. One of three. I’ve asked leading questions of all of them while I was working the machines. But it was “Sandi” in whom I sensed a little spark. So it seemed time to have a real conversation about what matters most. I asked her to lunch. And so we went — last Wednesday. Before we were even out of the Curves parking lot, she initiated things, telling me she had really been thinking about one of my questions — and so I asked her if I could tell her my story. She said, “Yes.” And so, before we even arrived at the restaurant, I told her how I had come to believe Jesus … [Read More]
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR — OR THE GREAT I AM?
In the message you’ll listen to this week by Tim Keller on John 6, when Jesus feeds the multitudes and claims, “I am the bread of life,” Keller commented that if the purpose of the miracles was to dazzle and convince us of His Deity, he could think of better ways Jesus could have done that. “He could have flown to Rome. He could have touched down and zapped the gladiators and the lions.” BUT JESUS DIDN’T COME TO DAZZLE US WITH HIS SUPER-POWERS OR TO BE A STAR Keller says that miracles are not meant primarily to convince people of the Deity of Christ because people will always find a way to explain it in some natural way. … [Read More]
