Recently, many in our culture have worked hard to cancel our past heroes. Christopher Columbus has gone from being praised for discovering the Americas, to being cancelled for his flaws. If we only praise those with spotless pasts, we will have no role models to emulate. Moses was a murderer, and David was a murderer and adulterer, yet, they ...
In this series, we’re discussing the different seasons of life and how to live them with purpose and no regrets. The second quarter is usually people who are in the 20 - 40 age bracket. As we try to get our careers off the ground, we will tend to make mistakes and learn hard lessons. This is part of God’s ...
Pastor Joe was surprised when the bank informed him that his bookkeeper was stealing money from the church. The bookkeeper was a recent widow struggling financially. When confronted with her crime, the Church’s bookkeeper was devastated with regret. She quickly agreed to a repayment plan. At great sacrifice, every month she made payments to repay the debt. Eventually the elders ...
Many years ago, a friend and I bought an investment property at a courthouse auction that the IRS was selling for back taxes. Surprisingly, days later the IRS informed us that they were exercising their legal right to redeem the house to sell it back to the family who lost their home. This law allowing redemption was bad for us, ...
For years I’ve observed an organization that is led by a very dominant figure. Their culture seems legalistic and the employees operate out of fear. Anyone who violates a rule suffers severe consequences or is terminated. What’s disappointing is that the organization is led by a self-proclaimed Christian, yet grace is rarely seen. It’s no coincidence that Jesus came to ...
Recently, Kathy and I watched the theatrical production of “Samson” at the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson. Samson slept with prostitutes, killed thousands of men, and violated many of his vows to God. Yet, at the end of his life, Samson turned back to God and accomplished God’s purpose for his life. Samson is a reminder that God is ...
This week we’re discussing four insights the Apostle Paul shares in Ephesians 4:29 that can help guard our tongues against gossip in the workplace. The final insight is “Grace.” The clerk ringing up our groceries was speaking sharp and offensive words to Kathy. Kathy confronted her only to receive a, “Whatever.” Frustrated, Kathy pressed harder for this clerk to own ...
In 2009, the world fawned over Captain Sullenberger’s heroic plane landing in the Hudson River. Behind the scenes, however, the National Transportation Safety Board was building a case against him. In the movie, “Sully,” Sullenberger’s case seemed hopeless as we watch the pilots in a computer simulation land safely, without landing in the Hudson River. The tide turned, however, when ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
