The Choice is Yours

“Do you believe in God?” Steve Kroft asks J. Craig Venter on a recent edition of 60 Minutes. “No,” answered Venter.  He is a world famous microbiologist.  After a lackluster time in undergraduate school he somehow went on to get a Ph.D. and now is considered one of the leading scientists in the world, having described the first genome, mapped the complete human genome, and now having created the first synthetic cells with man-made DNA.  Kroft goes on to describe Venter as one known by his peers as a brilliant man with an out-sized ego.

Thanks and Giving

I have always loved the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States. For many years it meant having dozens of college students and single adults in our home from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. More recently, it has been a quiet day with my Mom and Dad and any of our children that could make it. Absent all the hype and commercialism of Christmas, it is just a good day to relax, relate, reflect and, of course, be thankful.

God's Timing

I received an email this week and was surprised to see the name of the sender. We had not had contact for probably eight years, when for several months we were meeting most every week. Another friend and I were seeking to help him overcome his doubts and return to life as a disciple of Jesus. While he seemed to appreciate the time we spent, our visits ended without him making any changes.

The Three Stages of God's Work

A friend of mine likes to send me text messages with encouraging quotes. This week he sent one by Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China. It said:


"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."


Sometimes a brief statement says something so well, and this one immediately connected with me. I found myself more inspired than I have been by full-length sermons and well-written articles.
To participate in the work of God is to face and then accept a daunting challenge. That is true in the case of certain specifics but it is true of kingdom living and the kingdom mission in general. “Mission impossible” seems to apply. We accept it and embrace it not because it seems so possible but because it is the work of God.

Even in "This"

One night this past week I woke up with a doozy of a case of heartburn, officially called acid reflux. Ouch, those tasty ribs I enjoyed at dinner came back to bite me. New rule, I guess: no more ribs for me. Another ouch. On top of that, I had a bad dream, maybe related to the heartburn, who knows. So a pretty tough night, but, here is what I have learned: even in that, God can work, or at least in spite of that, God can work. My tough night did not  have to define the new day.

Treasure in Jars

 First, I want to thank all of you who have been so encouraging and supportive during this time after my father’s death. Your words have been much appreciated.

This week I want to let the words of our good friend Linda Brumley encourage us. Linda has a new book titled My Beggar’s Purse, and as you read it, you find that God has filled her purse with lots of wisdom. Today I want to share with you this gem from Chapter 2.

Thank You, Dad

This has been a difficult week. After a number of years of failing health, my father died on Monday night. Knowing this day would likely come, I had tried to prepare myself  for it. To some extent I had done that, but, then one can never fully prepare.