I love being a dad and teaching my children about life.  It is an honor and a joy to be “the man that knows everything” in their eyes.

My favorite questions are the ones the kids ask about God.  I love to see that they are thinking about the reality of God, about the lessons and concepts we discover together in the Bible.  However, some of the toughest theological things to answer come from the great questions my kids ask.

This morning, my 5 year old daughter came to me and asked, “Dad, do people who don’t believe in God go to the Church of Satan each week, like we go to God’s church?”

Her logic is brilliant.  The simplicity of a child’s understanding is so refreshing.  And I thank God for opportunities like this one to help explain more clearly God’s plan of salvation.

I explained to her that very few people actually attend the church of Satan.  Sadly, though, there are millions of people who have rejected God’s salvation and will face the same fate as if they had literally entered the church of Satan. [Read more...]

The quest to know one’s true identity has tremendous implications on how one will live.   The journal of the International Society for Self and Identity states:

“Work on self and identity has a special place in the study of human nature, as self-concerns are arguably at the center of individuals’ striving for well-being and for making sense of one’s life.  Life goals develop and are influenced by one’s view of what one is like, the way one would ideally like to be (or would like to avoid being), as well as one’s perceptions of what is feasible.  Furthermore, conceptions of self and the world affect how one’s progress towards these goals is monitored, evaluated, redirected, re-evaluated, and pursued again.  Thus, the “self” as a construct has far-reaching implications for behavior, self-esteem, motivation, experience of emotions and the world more broadly, and hence for interpersonal relationships, society, and culture.”

The core of how one will feel about oneself, how one will act toward others, and one’s satisfaction in life are all directly tied to how well one understands their true identity.  Knowing who you are is a key to knowing how to live well. [Read more...]

Do you know how much God loves you?

Nothing can compare with the love God has for his people.  It is something so magnificent, so undeserved and so powerful that is is worthy of thought and praise at all times.  While each of us has lived in sin, God still loved us and called us to Him.  He offers his forgiveness, his love, his power and his compassion to all who will believe.

I’ve found that fully grasping the depth of God’s love is difficult.  I have so much love for him for saving me.  But there are times where I can almost think of my salvation as a single act.  God saved me from my past…and sometimes I forget to live recognizing that he continues to save me and love me in each moment.

Beyond just forgiveness of sins, beyond the peace and wisdom he grants us, God also delights in us.  It is a remarkable thing to grasp that the God of the universe delights in every detail of one’s life.  As one seeks to love God and obey him, the Bible assures us that God in turn delights in the lives we lead.

“the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11)

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory” (Psalm 149:4)

“The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.” (Proverbs 11:20)

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” (Proverbs 12:22)

It is amazing to know that God, more than just watching or judging us, is taking delight in the ups and downs of our lives.  He is loving, kind and ready to both help and affirm us.  He is pleased with who we are as we live in honor and submission to him.  God takes delight in our victories, our joy, our struggle against obstacles and our actions.

I have recognized that God saved me.  I understand that he is there to hear me – both my confessions and my requests.  But it is a measure of love that I can’t quite calculate to know that he delights in my life.  God is so good!

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)


Do you recognize how God delights in you? How does this affect your understanding of God?

How does one describe the feeling of being on the brink of a new adventure?

I don’t know that I have the words to describe how things feel right now.  I am aware that I am about to begin a lot of change.  My wife is pregnant with our fifth child.  The due date is August 29th, but with a history of having babies a couple of weeks early, we could be meeting our newest treasure any day now.

I love being a father and each new child has been such a blessing, but there is still some nervousness and excitement as we get close.  Will she love me right away?  Will I be a good partner for my wife during labor?  Will the kids be OK while we’re at the hospital?  Will we get any sleep once we bring her home? [Read more...]

Some people may ask why they should trust God.  Many people have been through hard things in their life that may leave them questioning God’s goodness or His power.  Some people have never really taken the time to get to know God, and may wonder if He even exists, and if so, can God really have an impact in one’s life?

God can be trusted.  I have yet to read of or meet a person who fully trusted God who was ever disappointed.  Whether it be some of the famous characters of the Bible, like Abraham or Paul, or real world examples like Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Corrie Ten Boom, Angus Buchan, or D. L. Moody, God has proven Himself faithful and true in the lives of those who lived with faith in Him.

Why trust God?  Would you like: [Read more...]

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” (Psalm 46:1-2a).

This short verse from the Psalms is so full of meaning and promise.  As I read these words today, I was struck by how much is revealed about God in just a few lines.  And I recalled just how much God has shown himself to be true to these words in my own life.

In the opening of Psalm 46, God is described as both a refuge and our strength.  Simultaneously, God is our protection and our source of power.  As our refuge, God is described as the thing we should run to for help, for cover, for hope.  It’s the image of a shield over us, keeping us safe from all trouble. [Read more...]

This week, my wife and I celebrated the 8 year anniversary of the day that we met.  For us, this anniversary means more than our wedding anniversary.  I can still remember the first time I looked at Kristy, our first conversation, the feeling we had just spending time together – we fell in love.  It was literally a love at first sight.

And though the life we’ve led together since then has been filled with trials, God has carried us through them all and we continue to grow deeper in love each day.

In many ways, that first meeting was really the beginning of the life journey that God had planned for me.  From the beginning of our life together, God has used our love to not only to bring us closer to each other, but to draw us both closer to Him. [Read more...]

I was walking with my children just a few days ago.  It is a morning ritual for us.  We get up before breakfast, get dressed and head out to stretch our legs before the heat and humidity of the South become too sweltering.

Most mornings we amble down our street.  With kids aged 9,4,3 and 1, the pace is often leisurely.  This is a time for us to talk, to look for a rabbit, squirrel, robin, frog or even a dreaded snake (so far we’ve only seen two – both dead – one tiny garden snake and one copperhead with its head run over – thank you God, for non-threatening teachable moments).

The time together is great for us to bond, to breathe fresh air, and to share in the appreciation of all that God has made.  We take our time analyzing wildflowers, admiring the variety and colors and smells.  We look at the clouds and amazing sunrises, praising God for how good he is.  We look at the sky and guess if there will be a thunderstorm later in the day. [Read more...]

One of my favorite things to do is to share the word of God with my children.  For the last few years, we have made a habit of reading a chapter from the book of Proverbs each morning during breakfast.

Just recently, we decided to add to our Scripture sharing, and now read 10 chapters from the book of Psalms as the kids are laying down for their afternoon nap.  As we have read through the Psalms, I am amazed at how many promises of God are revealed in these pages.

Here are 25 of God’s promises as revealed in Psalms: [Read more...]

How hard do you find it to forgive someone when they have wronged you?

Forgiveness does not come easily to most people.  When someone has hurt us or treated us unfairly, it is difficult to let go of that pain and release our own feelings to show kindness.  Often, what one feels is anger, frustration, and ill will toward the person who has hurt us.

The Bible clearly call us to be forgiving people.  As the apostle Paul wrote, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

So how do we learn to forgive?  Like most aspects of life, we can turn to the life of Jesus as our example.  In the story of Jesus’ crucifixion in the book of Luke, we are presented with an amazing example of forgiveness. [Read more...]