Active Faith

For Ours Is the Kingdom

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom” (Matthew 5:3).   Do you feel weary? Tired? Do you feel discouraged at your lack of physical, emotional or spiritual strength? Today, God is giving us an invitation through this incredibly powerful verse. He calls the poor in spirit blessed. He invites those who feel their deep need and their poverty of heart to come and experience the kingdom for themselves. He invites us.   This passage has been ringing in my heart for months. It seems that lately everywhere I look I feel my weakness; I feel my […]

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Surviving or Thriving?

The health of a leader’s soul matters more than any amount of success, education, following or charisma. While it would be hard to find someone who would push back against that statement, it seems like every week another news story is breaking about a pastor or ministry leader whose secret double life has been exposed. In the words of pastor and Christian counselor, Chuck DeGroat, “I’m not surprised when the secret lives of Christian leaders are exposed. I am so sad that we keep elevating them. I’m even more grieved for the countless ‘followers’ who feel betrayed, confused, maybe even […]

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Empowering Laity in the Church

Connecting a group of people to its purpose starts with leaders. We’re tempted to talk more about the sacred. However, if God is redeeming all things, we must reframe how we invite others to a fresh Theology of Work. This forces some of us into a tense moment of dichotomy. If we, the Church, are a visible and recognizable entity living out the Father’s love in every city, it requires much of us. When a local congregation understands its true character as a holy priesthood, its most important contribution is its witness to the Kingdom of God, counteracting the world’s […]

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First Steps

I have been thinking about the idea of a first step. I am not sure what has prompted that idea, perhaps it is watching my grandchildren growing up, perhaps its watching students graduating university and starting their careers, perhaps its watching newlyweds and young families beginning to write their own stories. I have friends who are starting new business ventures, planting churches, and changing careers and all of these require a first step. Neil Armstrong took a first step and became famous for it. Do you remember those famous words, “One small step for man and one giant leap for […]

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Is This the Way It’s Supposed to Be?

Join me in the theater of the imagination. A cohort of ragtag men and women, disciples of Jesus Christ, who at best, were social pariahs and at worst, enemies of the state, sat in a room with only their testimonies of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. In fact, all they had in common was Jesus. They sat there awaiting the promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to fulfill the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. The Holy Spirit would give them the power to be witnesses to Him around […]

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In Spirit and In Truth

Worship is an essential foundation to the Christian life; it binds the creation to the Creator.  Corporate worship is an abundant source of joy and encouragement, as believers gather together to lift up their praise to God. However, once the church building is empty, many Christians find themselves silently struggling with the practice of personal worship. Have you ever tried to use a spiritual “band-aid” to solve a problem that is beyond you? Maybe you’ve felt disconnected from God, so you’ve tried to “fix” it with a quick prayer for a change of heart and a joyful spirit. Or maybe […]

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The Lurk

Have you ever seen a Lurk? Lurks are common but most people won’t recognize them. A Lurk reminds me of the Mimic octopus, who has a unique way of camouflaging as it blends in with the seafloor and its surroundings by changing its skin color and the shape of its tentacles to take on the shape of other sea creatures. Perhaps many of you are hearing about the Lurk for the first time but I am here to assure you it exists, and I believe you have seen it all the while not realizing that you have. The Lurk can […]

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Surprised by Jesus

Throughout the past few months, I focused on bringing you a word of encouragement related to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic that we all have been experiencing, and your positive response has been truly heartwarming. Beginning this month, however, we will return to our specific focus on biblical apologetics and the mandate given to us in 1 Peter 3:15 — “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” For the next few months, I would like to share […]

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Peace Requires A New Heart for Our Nation

I was numb when I first heard the news. An unarmed black man, 46-year-old George Floyd, was killed while in police custody on May 25. Accused of trying to use counterfeit money when buying cigarettes at a deli, he was pinned under the knee of Officer Derek Chauvin, unable to breathe.  Just a few weeks prior, our nation had mourned the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot dead while jogging in a Georgia neighborhood on Feb. 23, but the video footage didn’t become widespread until early May.  We signed petitions, we called our elected officials, and we commemorated […]

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A Lesson Learned Amid COVID

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 ESV). The COVID Problem After nearly four months of the most unprecedented world events any of us has ever experienced, we are, Lord willing, continuing to make our way out of this pandemic. I plan to go back to devoting these articles in the Good News to sharing truths that will strengthen our faith and prepare us to give an answer for the hope we have within us. But before I move away from sharing my thoughts on living through all the bizarre events that have taken […]

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