Whether domestic, ecclesiastical, political or financial—I sometimes feel like my job as pastor is to mediate conflicts. Maybe a striped shirt and a whistle should be issued along with the ordination papers. The problem with being a professional spiritual referee is...
Exodus 33 has always been one of my favorite passages. Every time I read it, I pray that God will help me be like Moses—the Moses in chapter 33, not the Moses whose temper keeps him out of the promised land later on. God seems to be testing Moses in Exodus 33, and...
By no choice of his own, Joseph ends up as a “houseboy” in an Egyptian mansion. Because of his hard work, integrity and the favor of God, he gets promoted and ends up in charge of everything Mr. Potiphar owns. Then, because of one false report, one piece of gossip,...
While reading my Bible this morning, I got stuck on a familiar passage that I could not get out of my mind. Here it is: “Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them . . .” (1 Corinthians 10:5) These people witnessed and experienced amazing miracles. They saw...
Just returned from LA, where 700 pastors, missionaries, church staff, campus and community leaders from around the world participated in our Every Nation International Leadership Conference. Here are my top 10 highlights, in random order. Russ Austin’s funny...
Because I want my blog to be a bastion of truth, justice, and the American way, I hate it when I find out that I posted something that turns out not to be entirely true. No harm intended, but I wrongly stated that my friend Michael celebrates the 4th of July by...
