My wife recently returned from a disciple’s wedding in South Africa with a bounty of fun gifts for the family. I was prized with a small wooden carving of a dung beetle. I decided to educate our kids on the dung beetle as they thought dad’s gift was rather hysterical. To our surprise these little organic, recycling, …
Today, a satellite was involved in your life. Whether you streamed the World Cup, checked a weather report or used navigation in your car… all of this is made possible by automated spacecrafts hundreds of miles above your head. We often don’t stop to think about these important satellites to carry on the business of the …
Yesterday, we (Dean and Amy Plumlee) cashed in the free gift card to take our kids to the local rock climbing gym. We could never have imagined how much they’d like it and how much we’d learn. As soon as we entered I was immediately intimidated by the instructor’s biceps and quickly went into a …
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 If you were called an “heirloom”, would you consider it a compliment or an insult? It is safe to assume most would consider it an insult. Heirlooms …
My dear friend Michael Titus serves as the country Director for J-Life Tanzania. Michael grew up in a Muslim home, yet Christ miraculously appeared to him in a dream. The next day, a Sunday, he walked almost 15 miles to the nearest church. When he arrived, the worship service had already started. Fearing the intentions …
On a recent flight from Orlando to Portland, I decided to take a break from my e-mails and find something to watch on Delta’s In Flight Entertainment. A new movie I’d never heard of, The Unknowns, piqued my interest. It’s a film created by Army Veterans Ethan Morse and Neal Schrodetzki. Both were stationed at …
While Peter denied Jesus and most of the other disciples scattered at the crucifixion, others surprisingly demonstrated bold faith during Christ’s suffering. Consider Nicodemus, a leading Pharisee. In John 3, we see him come to Jesus “at night.” He comes in secret. He doesn’t want to be seen. He has a reputation to protect. He …
The Apostle Paul lays out clear expectations for those of us who are ministry leaders. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith …
And Jesus said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. For what good is it for a man if he …
Years ago, I heard Dr. Howard Hendricks make this statement. “The day you stop growing is the day you start dying.” Don’t we all want to grow? The alternative doesn’t sound so appealing, does it! But what does personal growth look like? What does spiritual growth look like? How do we define genuine growth? …