Ten days ago, my wife, Elli, and I set out on a vacation. Both of us needed a break from the normal routine of responsibilities. Just several days into our trip, I discovered that I was expecting each experience to bring a magic moment, you know, the one that brings peace, rest and joy. Following several great experiences, (27 holes of golf among the tall northwest pines high in the mountains, kayaking down a river, and leisurely sunning poolside) it hit me. There is no one singular event that brings all that we need. If we were going to get the rest and peace from our break, our experiences would...

Last week, we talked about what it means to live life through Christ. So what is the alternative?  Robbed, cheated, unfulfilled life, death and burial!  Conversely, learning to live (the Jesus life) embraces His plan for the pressures of life that pile on.  And they do pile on.  That’s where “learning to live life” becomes a priority.  Even though we cannot avoid the pressures of life, we can definitely learn to process the pressures and avoid being stuck in life.  Thus, the need for “learning.” We process the pressure by learning to live with purpose.  Make...

Learning to live life.  For me, this is what God seems to be echoing in my heart lately.  “Learning to live life.”  Why would I need to learn something that appears to be natural!  Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10) (NLT) This comparison between the enemy of our lives and Christ is simple:  There is the real potential that we could forfeit a full life by not choosing to do life through Christ.  By not doing life through Christ, we fail to benefit from the provision...

I’m fifty-three years old. If my life were divided into 12-month segments, I would be in August. Time goes by so fast! It seems like yesterday Elli and I were elbow deep in raising twin boys. Now, each time I spend time with my grandchildren, I am reminded of having kids at home and how it all began with a wedding August 20, 1976. As I grow older, I am learning that beginnings are brief and somewhat already out of our control, but how we finish is completely up to us. Finishing well is one of life’s greatest challenges. Life is a journey and a process. Finishing well involves making...