There were two prophets to Nineveh – Jonah and Nahum. We all know about Jonah, but no one remembers Nahum. Let me help you. His message was succinct. Six words. Nahum 1:15 “The wicked will be completely destroyed.” Not partially destroyed. Completely destroyed. In warfare, nations employ any of 55 offensive strategies in an effort…
“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord – the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more” (Jeremiah 31:12). When we…
Restraint. You probably never think of restraint as a part of recovery. But holding back, saying nothing, and remaining calm – are some great signs of maturity. And recovery. Mark Batterson wrote, “Sometimes the greatest miracle is restraint: holding your tongue or resisting temptation or keeping your anger in check. Jesus set the standard before…
Read this verse with fresh eyes. Ask yourself what Jesus did just before he blessed the bread. “Now as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, he said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body’” (Matthew 26:26). What God blesses, he first breaks.…
It was the first prayer I learned. We prayed it every night before dinner: “God is great, God is good; let us thank him for our food. Amen.” We hear these same three words at church every Sunday, from a multitude of lips “God is good.” When our prayers are answered (our way), God is…
There are a lot of things that were once accepted as truth that turned out to be a lie: Mark Twain said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on.” He also said, “When you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause…
I spent nearly half my life in school – 29 years. I have met a lot of really smart people along my journey. I have met presidents, governors, surgeons, philosophers, astronauts, and scientists. I have played chess against grandmasters and dialogued with the leaders of some of the world’s most successful companies. I’ve known geniuses…
If you are a sex addict, it would be helpful for you to spend more time in the Word of God. If you are not a sex addict, It would be helpful to spend more time in God’s word. Samuel Chadwick wrote, “No one is uneducated who knows the Bible, and no one is wise…
“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy” (Galatians 5:22) St. Teresa of Avila said, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, Lord, deliver us.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest, paleontologist, and philosopher, said, “Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God.” Pastor and author Bruce Larson said, “Grimness is…
A few months ago, Beth and I vacationed on the north slope of Minnesota. The views of Lake Superior are simply stunning. I return every year on a personal writing retreat. It is a highlight of my year. One of the sites to not be missed is the Slip Rock Lighthouse overlooking the massive lake.…