I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how we can move successfully through this national plunge that we know is not a momentary discomfort. In my study, I discovered a few parallels in the Bible with different downturns in the nation of Israel. One of these parallels is found in 2 Chronicles 15.  It’s the time of Asa’s reform. Verse 5 describes the context: 5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. Trouble, confusion and disorder had become the daily routine. When I read that phrase, I thought, “Well…here we are...

The words of the Apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 2:1 capture my attention today (especially in light of our mission’s convention approaching October 3- 10).   Paul’s statement, “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure” could mean it wasn’t a waste of time or purposeless. Paul has been imprisoned in Philippi right before his first visit to Thessalonica. Yet, he did not let fear of imprisonment change his course to bring the Good News to the Thessalonians as they faced persecution. Paul knew that despite what he could face, the journey would not be wasted, as long...

After years of being part of churches and around Christians, I have observed a type of Christian (and I’m not sure what drives all this) that has a constant, insatiable hunger for something new or different. Usually, this type of person couches this hidden hunger by saying, “I’m looking for something deeper.”  Please don’t misunderstand me. The Apostles teach that there are incremental and growing levels of understanding that accompany maturity in Christ.  They compare the early truths of scripture like a drink of milk – we have easy access to them and they are easy to digest. ...