This coming Sunday, February 14, we complete our series on Colossians. By no means has it been a comprehensive study. We’ve just skimmed the surface, highlighting the central theme: Who is Christ? Who am I in Christ? And more specifically, what does life in Christ look like? Most of us are painfully oblivious to the way that God is forming us through the many experiences that life offers (good and bad). This begs me to ask the question: “What purpose does our spiritual formation serve if not in day-to-day relational living?” As Paul closes his letter, he lists several names that...

I Samuel 17:40 (MSG): David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath. I imagine David kneeling at the brook, selecting stones for his sling. David had never fought a giant before. How did he know what to do? Kneeling would not be the common thing to do. David at that point is defenseless. Goliath is disdainful of this kneeling David. God, however, is attentive to David. He (David) picks up the necessary tools and places them in his tool belt — part...

Recently I saw an interesting news report about a famous model who decided to get her legs insured.  Her legs were a highly marketable asset, so it was important to her and her modeling agency to make sure they would be protected against any potential injury or harm. Her right leg was insured for $600,000, but her left leg was “only” insured for $500,000.  A hundred thousand dollars is a big difference for the same set of legs.  The reason for the price difference was because her left leg had a tiny scar on it.  The insurance assessors felt that because of the scar, the left leg...

As you know, my grandson has become a unique catalyst God is using to teach me some life lessons. Some of these lessons are new and others have been learned but need revisiting. Two weeks ago, Elli and I took advantage of Karli’s birthday (our one year-old granddaughter) and took a quick trip to spend the day with them on her birthday. We all went to lunch and while I was bringing the meals back to the table, I overheard Lukis telling Elli that another little boy hit him while they were in the play area. I could see that Lukis was quite troubled about this. He let it go while the food was...

Today, it is snowing. In fact, we are under a storm warning that is blasting through the Midwest. My mind quickly recalls an episode in White Christmas, a good movie with great stars and catchy songs, in addition to a love story. It is a perennial holiday favorite. Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) meet during the war and team up afterward to become the hottest song-and-dance duo around. After five years of heady success, they think it’s time to take a vacation so they travel to a Vermont ski resort tin the company of the lovely sister entertainers Betty (Rosemary Clooney)...

If holidays were represented by a color, for me, Thanksgiving is brown — something other than the frenzied red of the secular Christmas, the patriotic red, white and blue of July 4th or the garish black and orange of Halloween. Brown is a peaceful, earthy tone, suggestive of fallen leaves, dried corn stalks and landscapes at rest after the harvest. A peaceful color is appropriate for the day and, thank God, no one is trying to take the “thanks” out of Thanksgiving. As Christ followers, we have an advantage at Thanksgiving because we know who to thank. Ours is a heritage of giving...

The last time someone asked you “What’s new?” what was your answer? If we are not intentional with our lives, someone might say we did nothing in particular, and we did it very well. Similarly, the question, “Where are you going?” is revealing as well. The average person’s life consists of 20 years of having parents ask where he or she is going, 40 years of having a spouse ask the same questions and, at the end, the mourners wondering the same thing. You can predict your future by the awareness you have of your unique contribution. So, what’s new? Where...

A few days back, I was looking through a box that was labeled “David’s Keepsakes.” My mother had saved things from my childhood and gave it to us when we moved to Iowa. It’s filled with my Cub Scout badges, my first report card, pictures, etc… Working my way through these things, I came across a note written to my mom from an older lady affectionately known as “Mom Kalles.”  Today you would say she was my mother’s mentor. Even so, my mother must have mistakenly placed this note with my keepsakes. The reason I was looking through this box was another...

We celebrated my grandson’s third birthday this past weekend. He is growing up so fast, and before I know it, he will better his “papa” in a round of golf. Following the party, Elli and I took some time to glance over three years of pictures. We noted how much he has changed, and even though his little personality is gradually developing, his language skills and motor skills improve daily. Today, I wonder if people could detect my spiritual growth as they glanced over my past three years. How about you? How are we doing in the realm of spiritual growth? Are we fulfilling God’s...

While attending Bible school, my study group was the key for me to excel on my semester test. Moreover, it maximized my learning and growth as a person academically and spiritually. Simply, within this group structure the material was better understood and retained. We could confirm with each other any confusing or complex subject material. Our group became a source of support and encouragement. At last, learning became more personally relevant and intellectually stimulating. A number of years ago, Harvard conducted a study for one of the military branches. Apparently, the military was sending...