Have you ever really thought through the meaning of the Armor of God? The types of armor mentioned in this passage is something we do not see or think about today. Armor to the warrior in those days was both defensive and offensive. If a soldier did not wear his defensive armor (helmet, breastplate, shield)… Continue reading The Armor of God
Category: Life Principles
Retirement…Then What?
I am almost seventy-five and have “retired” three times, none of the retirements were my plan, but looking back I can see God’s hand all over my path. In 2009, I was “retired” in a downsizing. I did not plan to retire, but it launched my consulting career. That change was a blessing I would… Continue reading Retirement…Then What?
The Rich Young Ruler
Luke 18:18-23 18 A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and… Continue reading The Rich Young Ruler
How Does the Business World Fit into the Kingdom?
From my observation, most Christian business owners, leaders and managers have a tough time connecting the principles of managing a business with Biblical principles. Most management problem solving and decision making appears to happen without seeking God’s wisdom or reviewing the underlying guidance from Scripture. So, what is the purpose of a business? Is it… Continue reading How Does the Business World Fit into the Kingdom?
The Principle of the Path
Are you on a path in life? Do you have plans you would like to accomplish this year, next year or in the long term? Do you have ideas that will help you get there? Some people would say yes, they have goals, and they are working toward them. Others seem too just live day-to-day.… Continue reading The Principle of the Path
Walking Faithfully with God
Have you ever pondered the statement in Genesis 5:24 that says, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” He walked faithfully with God. What does that mean? Think of Adam. He had direct conversations with God. So did his son Cain. However, neither walked faithfully with God. Even… Continue reading Walking Faithfully with God
Nothing Is Beyond You
I love wordsmiths and Rich Mullins is one of my favorites. He has a way of saying things in his songs that my heart wants to say, but I cannot put the feelings into words. He created a song titled Nothing is Beyond You that speaks of the awesomeness of our Lord in such a… Continue reading Nothing Is Beyond You
Two Kingdoms
I have been aware that there are two Kingdoms vying for the minds of people for a long time. One Kingdom guided by Jesus’ statement, “Love God with your whole heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” The other Kingdom is driven by the mantra, “Life is all about you. Get what… Continue reading Two Kingdoms
The Meaning of Love in Relationships
I have struggled for years with the random ways we use the word “love” in our culture. It is used so broadly the meaning of it has become meaningless. We say we love everything from ice cream, to sunsets, to our mate and to our God. I just struggle with such a variety of meanings… Continue reading The Meaning of Love in Relationships
For Better or For Worse
“For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”. These are words we hear at most weddings; starry-eyed young people, deeply in love, pledging themselves to one another. Setting in the audience we get teary-eyes thinking about our own special day. How beautiful the… Continue reading For Better or For Worse
“And the Two will become One”
Have you ever wondered what God meant when He said, “And the two will become one”? Obviously married people are still two physically separate individuals. And yet He said, “What God has joined together let no man separate”. In the last few years people we are close to have lost a mate. They were married… Continue reading “And the Two will become One”
Stewardship
Words are our method of communication, but rarely do we all put the same definition on them. I find this often in the words of scripture. Words are used that don’t apply to our society and so we tend to put “our definition” on the word and apply it through our definition. I believe sometimes… Continue reading Stewardship
Sacrificial Giving
I have heard people talk about sacrificial giving since I started going to church some 30 years ago. Lately I have begun to question the thought that is behind the term. What is sacrificial giving? Is it giving more than a tithe? Is it giving until it hurts? Is it always about money? Webster’s Dictionary… Continue reading Sacrificial Giving
A Need or a Want?
People that know me well hear me quote my mother often. She had many “sayings” that have helped shape me into the man I am today. One of them was her response to a child’s pleading for something. If I would say, “but I really need this thing”, she would simple ask, “Do you need… Continue reading A Need or a Want?
When is a Gift Truly a Gift?
Think about the last time someone gave you a gift. What was the reason? Maybe it was your birthday or your anniversary. What were the reasons you gave gifts the last few times; maybe to your spouse, your child, your mother or a friend? Ask yourself why this gift giving took place. Were you part… Continue reading When is a Gift Truly a Gift?
Unconditional Relationships
The key word here is unconditional; a gift is given unconditionally with no “strings” attached. If it isn’t unconditional, it is a trade, not a gift, expecting something in return. A true unconditional gift expects nothing in return. We witness this when we see a parent caring for a new born; unconditional care with no… Continue reading Unconditional Relationships
Sacrifice or Stewardship?
I have reached a milestone in my life. Half my life living for myself and half my life following the Lord. I spent my first 34 years on this earth running away from God. I was raised in church, and believed many Biblical facts, but was not interested in letting them impact my life. I… Continue reading Sacrifice or Stewardship?
“How Great is that Darkness”
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:22-23), “The eye is the lamp to the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great… Continue reading “How Great is that Darkness”
Decisions or Disciples
A couple of things I have recently come across have challenged me. They have driven me to ponder a few questions. Song Writer Michael Card has a line in a song that affects the way I think. The line says, “The questions often tell us more than answers ever will”. I am a “ponderer”. I… Continue reading Decisions or Disciples
24 Gold Coins…A Life Well Spent
Have you ever thought about how you spend an average day? If you see the 24 hours in a day as 24 gold coins, time begins to have more value. Like a coin, we can spend each one. Unlike a coin, we cannot save it. We can spend it anyway we want, but we can… Continue reading 24 Gold Coins…A Life Well Spent
What Controls Our Focus?
If you are like me, you have wondered many times how Adam was lead to sin in the middle of Paradise. How could he do what God told him not to do after walking and talking with his Creator in the Garden? I also wonder why the Bible calls it Adam’s sin. After all, it… Continue reading What Controls Our Focus?
Test the Spirits
1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” The concept of testing the spirits has added a great “tool” in my faith walk. I have come to recognize there are two… Continue reading Test the Spirits
Ecclesiastes
I have been drawn to Solomon’s thoughts in Ecclesiastes since the early days of my Christian walk and Bible reading. I believe most people think this book is depressing, but there is something about the way God inspired Solomon to write this book that rings crystal clear to me. To me this book clearly asks… Continue reading Ecclesiastes
“Do Whatever He Tells You” John 2:5
One of my favorite things to do is to imagine what the life of a Biblical character was like and then try to understand why they thought and acted the way they did. It helps me see them as real people just like you and I, not a character in a story. It helps me… Continue reading “Do Whatever He Tells You” John 2:5
Are You Willing?
I find the Christian walk to be very interesting. As humans we “try hard” to accomplish our goals. This seems to hold true with our walk with God. We “work hard” at doing all the right things, saying all the right things and acting out what we understand our Christian walk to be. The thing… Continue reading Are You Willing?
