Not a Fan (January 12, 2012) So are you his follower or just a fan, or perhaps you are someone who doesn't even care about the difference? “Not a Fan” challenges us to make Jesus not merely the object of our admiration, but for him to become the very center of our life   more...

Is New Better? (December 29, 2012) For we can and should see the New Year as an opportunity for change. What exactly those opportunities will be is not yet known but with the New Year new choices are possible.   more...

The Real St. Nick (December 15, 2011) The legend of Santa Claus is built around the stories of Nicolas’ generosity and is illustrated in one particular story...   more...

Christmas Gift (December 1, 2011) At Christmas we are to remember that with the birth of the child we are given a gift and as a gift it is something that was unexpected, undeserved and unconditional.   more...

Waiting (November 17, 2011) Rather than taking the time to stop and ‘smell the roses’ we are often rushing to get to the next big thing. At no time is this more evident than during the holiday season.   more...

The Real Church (November 3, 2011) No church building is sacred – useful, certainly, but not sacred. Why? Because God does not dwell in structures made by men; he dwells in the heart of the believer.   more...

Don't Let Stress Stall You (October 20, 2011) How we handle stress will affect our health. When facing stress we are tempted to treat the symptoms rather than the problem.   more...

Image Bearers (October 6, 2011) We cannot and should not justify our treatment of people based on how we treat animals; rather it would be better for us to treat animals the way that we treat people.   more...

Transitions (September 22, 2011) ...you are likely to be tempted to stop asking questions and instead follow the well worn path to indifference. Rather than becoming passionate about finding answers to your questions, it is easier to choose the path of least resistance.   more...

To Whom Compare God (September 8, 2011) Isaiah's conclusion is that there is no one like God, "To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?" (Is. 40:18) And yet we continue to "return the favor and make God like us!"   more...

New Beginnings (August 25, 2011) Why do we need to be born again, why not just a spiritual makeover? The reason is that our problem is greater than skin deep, it goes to the core.   more...

Stopping at one (August 10, 2011)What causes you to yield to temptation? It matters not if it is anger, or lust, or pride or even ice cream; we yield to temptation because we forget what is true.   more...

Facing Detours (July 14, 2011) These two ways and these two gates represent the pathway of our lives. We are already traveling along the easy road the question is if we will look for that exit, that gate that leads to life.   more...

What it means to be free (June 30, 2011) The freedom I want us to consider is not political freedom, but the spiritual freedom that was won for us on a different battle field.   more...

Why Church? (June 16, 2011) Why do you attend church? People tell me that they go to renew their covenants, to learn more about their faith and for social interaction. While there may not be wrong answers to this question, some answers are better than others.   more...

One Day At A Time (June 2, 2011) The quality of your vacation time will be determined more by how you spend your time at work or school than how you spend your time away from them.   more...

Heaven and Hell (May 18, 2011) Often our problem in understanding heaven and hell comes from our failure to look to the Bible to give us our definition.   more...

Running the Race (May 5, 2011)It is this goal that allows us to walk by faith. Even when we can’t see the finish line, we know what lies ahead and strive for the goal.   more...

Passover & Easter (April, 7 2011) Passover was a foreshadowing of the redemption that God would bring to all people through Christ.   more...

God's Honor Code (March 10, 2011) Inevitably when we devise something like an honor code we pick and choose violations that we believe are significant enough to enforce discipline... When we look at God’s standards we find that each of these seemingly minor infractions make us as guilty as those committing the ‘bigger’ sins.   more...

Being Born Again (February 10, 2010) The image is of something that is better than “as good as new.” The Bible promises that when we come to faith in Christ we are not better, we are not cleaned up and polished, but that something within us has been changed – we become a new man or woman.   more...

Sanctity of Life (January 27, 2011) It is not enough for Christians to support the choice of life that women make daily, but it is also important for us to extend compassion and grace to those who have had abortions in the past.   more...

Disappointments (January 13, 2011) It is much easier for us to see ourselves as being righteous because we do not look unrighteous, but we must understand that God looks to the heart. How are we to be made clean on the inside?   more...

Half Full New Year (December 30, 2010) we may face many difficulties in the coming year, but when the fear of death is removed we can have great hope no matter how great the trials are that we face. This leaves us with looking into the coming year with anticipation; no matter the trials or joys of the past year, we can view the coming year as half full.   more...

Christmas Gifts (December 16, 2010) What present will you offer to God this year in thanks for the gift of life that he has extended to us through the child in the manger?   more...

Christmas Words (December 2, 2010) “The important thing Advent helps us remember is that we are located between these two arrivals, seemingly stuck somewhere after the “already” but still within the “not yet” of God’s kingdom."   more...

Give Thanks (November 18, 2010) Our struggle comes when my eyes are focused on the thanks we receive rather than the person that I am theoretically seeking to bless.   more...

Truth (November 4, 2010) The Christian faith stands in the belief that the Bible is TRUTH. Not a truth but the truth. The Christian believes what it says and stands in it.   more...

Are You Perfect (October 21, 2010) I have a choice as I face my own limitations. I can accept them or I can blame.   more...

Knowing What We Believe (October 7, 2010) If the Christian were to believe that the Bible is not the Word of God to be taken literally word for word, what then would guide either their theological understanding or personal life?   more...

Loyalties (September 23, 2010) ...they needed to discern where their loyalties lay – with organizational traditions and structures or with God’s Word.   more...

Consider Job (September 9, 2010) As we consider the trials of Job and his response, we can find hope to face our own trials.   more...

Who is a Christian? (August 26, 2010) I assume that nearly everyone who reads this considers themselves a Christian; they do so according to a definition that fits their worldview. If someone, with a different definition challenges their claim, they may be tempted to take offense.   more...

We don’t need religion (August 12, 2010) It is not religion that people need, it is faith. True meaning and purpose will not come from a generic faith in whatever higher power you desire, but only faith in the God who made the heavens and the earth.   more...

Following Christ (July 29, 2010)...if we are to finish the race this sin must be dealt with. Before we can finish we must first start and until we are willing to confess our sin we will remain stuck in the starting blocks.   more...

Forgiveness for All (July 15, 2010) ...as regretful as our behavior in the past may be, there is (and must be) hope for all in Christ if the Christian gospel is true   more...

The Cost of Freedom (July 1, 2010) Christ gave His life to bring us freedom. Not the political freedom that many in His day desired, but spiritual freedom.   more...

Father's Day (June 17, 2010) Most men are not naturally gifted at communicating – some are even worse. Commonly their failure is not due to a lack of desire, but a lack of modeling by their own fathers.   more...

Graduating from church? (June 3, 2010) What causes them to become disconnected from Christian fellowship following graduation? Undoubtedly a variety of things, but a primary cause must be seen in the failure of the church to show Christ to its youth.   more...

Milestones (May 20, 2010) Milestones offer us the opportunity to look in the rear view mirror to see where the Lord has brought us; not to become fixated on the ‘good old days’ but to see what the Lord has been doing.   more...

National Day of Prayer (May 6, 2010) The hope of the NDP is to foster unity within the Christian Church; to protect America’s Constitutional Freedoms to gather, worship, pray and speak freely; to encourage and emphasize prayer, regardless of current issues and positions; and to glorify the Lord in word and deed.   more...

Amazing Charis (April 22, 2010) The more I need to work for grace the less room there will be for God to do the work. The more I need to work for grace the more I deserve the praise and the less praise God receives.   more...

Problem with Anger (April 8, 2010) As we face a trial we have a choice; we can either choose God’s way, to 'consider it pure joy', or the fleshly path to become irritated. Which is the easiest choice?   more...

Why Easter (March 25, 2010) We should long to be at church on Easter Sunday to remember and celebrate the significance of what Christ has accomplished for us. We come to celebrate the great hope that has been claimed for us in the resurrection of Christ.   more...

Lost But Now Found (March 11, 2010) Jesus desires to illustrate the love that God has for the lost sinner. He even reaches into the dusty and dirty places of the earth in order to reclaim his treasured possession - us.   more...

Resisting Temptation (January 14, 2010) Yielding to temptation will always seem to be the easy choice, even when we know that it will lead us no where good. As we face temptations we must choose if we will be mastered by them or if we will master them.   more...

Ends and Beginnings (December 31, 2010) With the start of a new year we often find ourselves considering the past year and resolve to make changes for the coming year so that it will be better than the last. But experience tells us that our resolutions will not be met unless we follow through with the changes that are needed.   more...

Born to Die (December 17, 2009) At Christmas we must look beyond the cradle to see the cross. The Messiah had to be born as a man so that he could die as our Savior.   more...

Preparing for Christmas (December 3, 2009)Advent allows the individual to prepare their hearts for Christmas by pausing to remember the reason why the child was born, that it is in Christ alone that all of creation is reconciled to God.   more...

Being Thankful (November 19, 2009) It is difficult for us to understand the sacrifice that the Pilgrims made to find freedom of worship, nor can we fully appreciate how many around the world still struggle to find such freedom.   more...

Understanding root of sin yields freedom - (November 5, 2009) I have a riddle for you – Are we a sinner because we sin, or do we sin because we are a sinner? How we answer is important because if we desire to rid our lives of sin, we must first understand its cause.   more...

It is Better to be Single (October 22, 2009)I think that the message for singles is one that needs to be preached. Often the message of our culture and the church is that everyone should be married. But it is important for us to see that such thinking is cultural and not biblical.   more...

Sitting in the Dark - (October 8, 2009) As important as power is in our daily life, we found that we did not need electricity to worship but we certainly needed light. The light I am thinking about does not come from a light bulb or candle, but comes from God’s Word. The power outage left us in the dark and provided us with a good object lesson about our need for spiritual light.   more...

Defining Normal (September 24, 2009) Everyone that travels overseas has a story of an experience that pushed them outside of their box of normality. These experiences show us how our definitions of normal are often relative; they also reveal the need for a ‘standard’ outside of ourselves to measure normality.   more...

The Voice of Praise (September 10, 2009) If you were to have closed your eyes and listened to the choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus you wouldn’t have imagined the poverty that surrounded us. But visiting a place such as this village is a powerful lesson in what real wealth is all about.   more...

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (August 27, 2009) It is true that it will likely be painful to push the elephant into view so that it can be dealt with, but it is far less painful than being trampled by it later on.   more...

Wanting Something For Nothing (August 12, 2009) My sin was my perception that I deserved, had a right to, the rebate – but my perception was wrong. We are likely to struggle with similar perception problems. There may be many ways in which we can feel that we are entitled when we really aren’t.   more...

Honoring your Heritage (July 30, 2009) The Bible tells us that our heritage due to Adam’s sin is condemnation, but the good news is that we can choose a new way by looking to Christ.   more...

Understanding Bible Translations (July 16, 2009) Some ask why there are so many, while others wonder which one is the best. Let me then offer some background information to help answer these questions.   more...

Look to the Lord (July 2, 2009) Maybe you have been in a place similar to Naomi’s. Life can seem so unfair at times. Disaster comes by an unexpected death, financial lose or illness. No one can be fully prepared for such trials.   more...

Who is Great (June 18, 2009) For there is not a greater place of glory for the spiritual leader you are thinking of if you both are in Christ – For it is God alone that is great.   more...

Jesus Cleans us With Super Soap (June 4, 2009) It is significant that the song does not say that “as I scrub myself I remember how I cleaned myself” but rather of how the bath water reminds them of how the Lord washes away their sin.   more...

Travel safely on the road of life (May 21, 2009) Just as learning the ‘rules of the road’ and following them makes our traveling safe, so too will we be kept safe by learning and following the ‘rules for living’ given to us in the Bible.   more...

Mother's Day can be challenging (May 7, 2009) It is easy to forget that all may not have feelings of joy at Mother’s Day. And while there is little that we can do to change their circumstances, there is much that we can do to encourage those who are lacking joy.   more...

What do you believe about the Bible? (April 23, 2009) Christians through out the ages have put much effort into studying the Bible; not only to understand its meaning, but to also stand in the surety of its truth. For if the Bible IS TRUE then it calls for us to listen. It ceases to be matters of opinion but matters of truth.   more...

Empty Promises of Easter (April 9, 2009) The real meaning of Easter is not found in Easter eggs or chocolate bunnies but in an empty cross and empty grave. This is where our hope for life is found; apart from the resurrection nothing changes. We are left in the grave with Christ.   more...

Messy Sins (March 26, 2009) We live in a culture where more emphasis is put on the outward appearances than in the delivery. We work hard on the packaging, but neglect the quality of the product itself. While living in nice homes, having good jobs and even having the wonderful 2.3 children, we may realize that something is missing. Life just doesn’t seem to be flowing from us as we know it should.   more...

The Corrosive Effect of Sin (March 12, 2009) Both sin and corrosion are far easier to deal with when they first occur; initially it can be taken care of with little effort or cost. But if left alone, it works itself in deeper and deeper until its destructive powers surface and by this time we are facing a crisis.   more...

Questions of Why (February 26, 2009) If we are honest in considering our why questions we will find them to be more an accusation than question. Have you ever considered what is implied in your why questions of God? Does it not question his wisdom and authority?   more...

Meaning of Love (February 12, 2009) Biblical love is not limited to romantic affections. Biblical love is not given only to those who love us but is extended to all; especially to those that we believe are undeserving of our love. Our problem in defining love is that we commonly use a valentine definition rather than biblical thinking.   more...

I Owe You an Apology (January 29, 2009) When I consider my sins, I frequently think of it only as “My Sin”. But few of us live on an island unto ourselves, for what we do and say will affect not only me but others as well.   more...

Sanctity of Life (January 15, 2009) According to the recent report from the Utah Vital Statistics, 80 women who listed Cache County as their place of residence had abortions in 2007...In recognition of their need for support in facing an unexpected pregnancy the nonprofit Center for Pregnancy Choices (90 N 100 E) is opening; they will have their grand opening in Logan on Thursday January 22.   more...

New Years Resolutions (December 31, 2008) If we are to resolve to make changes in the coming year, we would be wise to prayerfully consider what we need to do to allow for these changes to happen.   more...

Is Your Life Wonderful? (December 18, 2008) It is not that there is anything wrong with the giving or receiving of gifts, but when this is all that Christmas means is it any wonder that many find little to be joyful about in Christmas? Christmas is about the giving and receiving of gifts, but it is not gifts under a tree it is the gift of a child in the manger.   more...

Redefining Good (December 4, 2008) Freedom is only found when we live truthfully, without fear or regrets. When we yield to the temptations to lie, cheat and steal, we are left empty. Just as these students consider themselves to be ‘good’ in spite of their behavior so do most people.   more...

Being Thankful (November 20, 2008) This past weekend I spoke with some people that have few worldly goods for which to be thankful. One woman is in the county jail waiting to be transferred to a federal facility; another couple has mounting debt from medical bills and poor financial choices.   more...

Made in Christ (November 6, 2008) It matters not if we were ‘Made in the USA’ or ‘Made in China,’ we who are many are one body in Christ. In the Christian celebration of communion this is what we are remembering. We are remembering what Christ has done for us.   more...

Mule Cart & Cell Phone (October 23, 2008)You may wonder if marriages are different in China than in the United States. The answer is yes and no...In a way, many of the things that I taught the students about are like this mule wagon driver with a cell phone: mixing the old with the new.   more...

Joe (October 9, 2008) Religious people look to what they have done to find their hope. Joe has learned what Paul calls the ‘secret of contentment.’ Joe’s hope is found in what God has done for him through Christ.   more...

Pushing Through the Wall (September 25, 2008) The runner has a choice when he hits the wall, to trust in his preparation or to give into the pain. James 1:4 tells us that it is only by allowing ‘perseverance to finish its work that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” We cannot finish if we will not persevere.   more...

Dropping the Balls (September 11, 2008) - How many things are you trying to juggle? I am not talking about balls but tasks; how adept are you in the art of multi-tasking?   more...

Use Your Faith (August 28, 2008) Just as the cell phone is likely to work better in the store than on the street, we may find it easier to live the Christian life at church than in the real world. As this is true, we maybe tempted to believe that the problem is taking our faith into the world. But real life must be lived in the real world.   more...

Remembering our Anniversaries (August 14, 2008) ‘Remember’ is a key word associated with anniversaries. An anniversary gives us reason to pause and remember both the good and the difficult times associated with the marriage. Remembering the past is healthy if we allow it to help us prepare for the future.   more...

Whitewashing the Truth (July 17, 2008) Coveting causes blind spots; it removes the swimming hole from our vision and prevents us from seeing the real cost of the things we desire.   more...

Finding God in the Noise (July 3, 2008) I have learned that while I enjoy the beach or the mountains for my retreat, it is far more necessary for me to find peace where I am at. For if I fail to find peace in the midst of chaos then I can never have the peace I am longing for.   more...

Contrary Opinions (June 19, 2008) It has commonly been believed that the two topics that should be avoided in polite conversation are politics and religion, but who said that this is the way that it needs to be? Why should a difference of opinion limit our conversation?   more...

Importance of Our Father - (June 5, 2008)It is important for us to consider this tension, for Scripture intentionally uses the image of the earthly father to illustrate truths about God our Father. As we then understand the role of the father we can also have a better view of who God is.   more...

Renewing Your Covenant - (May 22, 2008) Are you confident of your salvation? Many will say no. To them it is arrogant to assume that any can know because they believe that no one can ever know if they have done enough good works. They lack assurance because they are aware that no matter how ‘good’ they are they still fall short of the standard they believe is necessary for salvation.   more...

What the church can learn from baseball-( May 8, 2008) What’s the difference between ‘going to church’ and going to worship? If you’re uncertain, maybe an illustration from baseball can help. No, I am not suggesting that we replace ushers with hotdog vendors, or that we should heckle the preacher, but there are lessons we can learn from baseball that can move us from going to church to going to worship.   more...

Life With God dependent upon His Word-(April 24, 2008) For everything there is a season, a purpose. We see it in nature, but we can also see in life. The Bible often uses the simple images observed in nature to illustrate the profound truths of life.   more...

The power of fear-(April 10, 2008) The only relief from fear is seen in God, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:18)   more...

When Things Don't Work (March 27, 2008) It is easy for us to be fooled by appearances. There are times when by appearances everything looks to be ok when in reality everything is not ‘ok.’ The religious people of Jesus’ day excelled in having the appearance of righteousness while not being righteous; Jesus says that their problem was that they ‘were not known by Him.’   more...

Remember, lest you forget (March 13, 2008) This coming Sunday we remember what is called Palm Sunday...Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week...What are all these different days, what do they mean and why are they celebrated? These are good questions, and the answer is that they are celebrated as points to remember what Christ has done for us.   more...

To Give or Not to Give (February 14, 2008)It is good to give, but when we limit our giving to a defined percentage we can easily be mislead into wrong thinking. When we give out of our excess, what we give is worthless. If we give to pay a debt, we will never have enough to pay the debt we owe to God. Remember God does not desire you money, what He desires is a ‘broken and contrite heart.’   more...

Doing Unto Others (January 31, 2008) “Grab the initiative and do it for them.” We understand the idea, but we often lack application. If we are broken down by the side of the road we may hope for someone to take the initiative to stop; yet when we are that someone, do we take the initiative?   more...

New Year Question (January 6, 2008) As I talk with people I realize that one of the things on some peoples ‘do list’ is to find spiritual answers... If you find yourself on this path, or if you desire to grow in your understanding of who Jesus is, consider my New Year question, “Is Jesus your friend or your master?”   more...

Definition of Nice(December 20, 2007) We will often define words by what they are not. Being good is simply defined as not doing anything bad. Having peace is not having any conflict; happiness is not having any troubles. Yet when we define words by what they are not, we are not really saying what they are.   more...

Bring On The Little Children (December 6, 2007) When the disciples prevent their coming we’re told that Jesus was ‘indignant’; he uses it as an opportunity to teach them two important lessons.   more...

Give Thanks (November 22, 2007) This is where our thanksgiving must begin. When I give the Lord thanks for who He is, rather than what He has given me, then I will be better able to give Him thanks for what He has done.   more...

Are You A Universalist (November 8, 2007) To suggest that all religions are one is both naive and insulting to those that have faith. It denies their truth-claims without examining them, and in the end it creates a ‘super-religion’ that is able to look down on those who have not attained their enlightenment that there is no truth; this is ultimately their truth claim.   more...

Attraction to the Dark Side - (October 25, 2007) But do the origins of Halloween matter? Or can children and adults look on it as simply a fun, “dress-up” day? This is a good question; most say that it doesn’t matter. But should it matter? If we say no, then we find ourselves on a slippery slope that leads us away from ‘WWJD’ to the second area of concern: the increasing darkness seen in Halloween celebrations.   more...

No Small Sin - October 11, 2007 When we are convicted of sin, we must choose how we will respond. Some will choose to dismiss it, even seek to explain it away, but to do so does not remove the effects of our sin. It is only as we come to Christ by faith are we able to embrace the conviction as a gift that the Lord has given it to us for.   more...

A stab in the dark - September 27, 2007 Over the past few weeks, as I have attempted to repair my daughter’s car, I have felt a bit like the woman that Jesus heals of whom Mark comments, “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.”   more...

What is Certain? (September 13,2007) - The uncertainty of life can be something that hounds us. Depending on when we take the snapshot of our life there will be different views; some may be quite picturesque, others horrific. All the while, the current keeps moving us, daily bring change. There is only one certainty, somewhere ahead our journey will end.   more...

Fortune Cookie Wisdom (August 30, 2007) - ... we may fail to see the urgency of time; we assume that there will always be a tomorrow, but one day there will not be anymore tomorrows. As the fortune cookie has counseled, we should live as if you’ll die today. How would you live today differently if you had less than 24 hours to live?   more...

Trials will reveal if our hope lies with God (August 16, 2007) Trials will reveal where our hope lies; when our hope is in God there is only optimism. As our faith is tested, what it is comprised of is made evident. The Bible tells us that trials can be and are good, for according to James 1:2-4, we are made complete through our trials.   more...

Check Engine (August 2, 2007) Spiritually speaking, God offers us many “Check Engine” warnings. We know that God has given us his written warnings in the 10 Commandments, but he has also written his word on our hearts. Even without knowing the written law we know that lying, stealing, murder or adultery are wrong.   more...

Rightly Using His Name (July 19, 2007) Possibly we don’t know what it means to misuse his name. The Hebrew word is sometimes translated vain and means to use it in an empty, trivializing or profane manner... Is this how we have treated His name - with evil purposes, thoughtlessly or carelessly? It should be clear that we do not use the Lord’s name in a profane manner to bless the Lord or to bless our hearers.   more...

Sin, like fire blight bacteria, can spread, cripple (July 5, 2007) Fire blight provides an apt illustration of how sin affects us. Sin is like the bacteria that enters through the blossom and spreads on to the twigs and can eventually kill.   more...

Weeds Planted in Our Lives Must be Identified & Removed (June 21, 2007) It is unlikely that we will recognize every weed growing in our garden. From time to time, one will pop up without us knowing where it came from. The question is how are we to recognize these weeds? For the gardener the answer is by experience, by consulting those who understand weeds, and by making use of reference books.   more...

To Judge or Not to Judge (May 31, 2007) We judge those who are judgmental as being wrong. Why? Because in part we recognize that judgmental attitudes do not help others; in fact they seek to do the opposite. Rather than making a judgment and seeking to help, the judgmental person makes a judgment and sits on it feeling superior.   more...

A Bond From Common Faith (May 17, 2007) Will our focus be on how we are different or on how we are similar? If we were to make an honest examination, we will find that we have more in common with others that differences. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by our differences, we will miss out on the joy of what we share in common.   more...

Walking Through Limitations (May 3, 2007) We can become incapacitated by the things that we perceive to be limitations...I am writing this from a small village in the Yunnan Province of China. Here there are no Holiday Inns, no indoor plumbing and none of the modern conveniences that we take for granted. To get to this mountain village you must drive over 18 miles of cobblestone road.   more...

Being Thankful For Limits (April 19, 2007) If we approach God’s word with the same laxness that we do the speed limits on the highway, we will also find ourselves in danger. For when we are found to be guilty we will face more than a fine that needs to be paid; we will face condemnation.   more...

When the Cheering Stopped (April 5, 2007) The world seems to be continually in search of a savior. They will look everywhere but to the true savior, Jesus Christ. But the skeptics of today are not alone, for through out history people have rejected the Messiah.   more...

The Fear of What If (March 22, 2007) Fear is a horrid master – it can make us paranoid and distrustful. Thankfully we do not need to live under the power of fear; when our hope is in Christ, the need to fear has been removed.   more...

Speaking Truthfully (March 8 2007) To illustrate, how would you define sin? Most would answer with, “I think sin is…” But this offers only my opinion; it does not provide an authoritative definition. Yes it gives your definition, but your opinion does not necessarily provide me with an answer for me.   more...

Operating According to Design (February 22, 2007) Like the mouse, we have been made for a purpose; our purpose is to reflect the one who made us. The Bible tells us that we were created in God’s image. We are to put off anything that inhibits our functioning as we were designed.   more...

Yielding to Christ (February 8, 2007) The Bible has clearly spoken words of warning to those who will listen. The flashing lights warn us of danger as we approach the intersection of life. They tell us that unless we turn to Christ, change the path that we are on, we are headed toward outer darkness.   more...

What are you worth? (January 25, 2007) In the purest sense, value is determined by what someone will pay for it. Your value is seen in the fact that Christ gave his life for you. What are you trusting in to give your life value? What Christ has done, or what you must do?   more...

Finding Solace In Suicide Through Faith (January 11, 2007) This past week we lost a dear friend to suicide. Too many people that I have known have yielded to the temptation of taking their own life. Their action leaves those who remain behind asking questions for which we struggle to find answers.   more...

Finding Meaning after Christmas (December 28, 2006) “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Possibly these words from Ecclesiastes 1 express your feelings after the holidays. Be it standing in the gift return lines with unwanted items, or in consideration of the countless hours of preparations for Christmas, we may wonder if it was all meaningless?   more...

How To Celebrate Christmas (December 14, 2006) Have you given much thought to what it means to celebrate Christmas? The Encarta dictionary defines celebrate as ‘to show happiness.’ When I think of celebrating Christmas, I wonder if this or the other definitions of celebrate better reflect our celebration. The other definitions are: to mark an occasion or to perform a religious ceremony. To understand the difference, let’s consider them in reverse order. Have you given much thought to what it means to celebrate Christmas? The Encarta dictionary defines celebrate as ‘to show happiness.’ When I think of celebrating Christmas, I wonder if this or the other definitions of celebrate better reflect our celebration. The other definitions are: to mark an occasion or to perform a religious ceremony. To understand the difference, let’s consider them in reverse order.   more...

A Christ-less Christmas (November 30, 2006) One of our Christmas traditions is to buy a dated Christmas tree ornament each year. Somewhere on our tree we have an ornament for each of the 24 years that we have celebrated Christmas together. But this year when I went to the store and searched the shelves for the perfect 2006 ornament, I found none.   more...

One Step At A Time (November 16, 2006) One may wonder with the latest news scandal of Ted Haggard, the evangelical pastor who confessed to sexual immorality in Colorado, how a respected spiritual leader could commit sins so clearly contrary to the message he preached. The answer is easy: one-step at a time.   more...

All Saints (November 2, 2006) How did you celebrate the holiday yesterday? What holiday is celebrated on November 1 you may wonder? All Saints Day of course; All Saints Day is the Rodney Dangerfield and Eeyore of holidays. It gets no respect and it hardly gets noticed.   more...

Doing the most (September 21, 2006) Following the Aggie’s football game with the Ute’s, the Sunday Herald Journal showed an Aggie fan with the caption, “Oh, My Heck.” To the residents of Utah the meaning was clear. But would it be just as clear to the person who just moved to the state?   more...

Unity (September 14, 2006) Over 20 years ago, a friend told me that he would like to see the Protestant churches of Utah sharing a common name like the Uniting Church in Australia. This movement began June 22, 1977 when a diverse group of denominations agreed to work together under the name of the Uniting Church in Australia. This unity was expressed in what they call their “Basis of Union” a statement of faith and unity.   more...

Broken Windows (August 31, 2006) Comics can bring levity to serious issues. Monday’s ‘Family Circus’ showed Billy coming inside with his bat over his shoulder and one of those ‘good news-bad news’ expressions. “The good news is we’ve still got plenty of unbroken windows,” he announces as he comes in. We know all too well what he is saying.   more...

Don’t overlook the obvious (August 17, 2006) My daughter came home one night in tears saying that she had got a ticket. In asking for details we found that she had been pulled over for having no taillights. She said that she didn’t know because the headlights were working fine. As I pried further, I learned that the dash lights were also out. It soon became very clear what the problem was. She hadn’t turned the lights on.   more...

Delays (July 13, 2006) Last year for Father’s Day my wife got me an atomic wristwatch. No, it is not nuclear powered, but it is updated every few hours with the US Atomic clock in Colorado to insure that I have the correct time. Yet knowing the exact time does not guarantee that I will always be on time – for there will always be unexpected delays.   more...

Sinnerville (June 1, 2006) On May 2 the Associate Press reported that a developer in Gillette, Wyoming wanted to name his new 42-acre subdivision Sinnerville. No it was not in hopes of competing with Las Vegas as Sin City, but the development was to be named after its developer, Jason Sinner.   more...

Faith & Fear (May 18, 2006) What is the opposite of fear? It is not to be brave, for bravery is what allows us to face our fears. The opposite of fear is faith.   more...

Franken-God (September 22, 2005) That the Bible demands for Yahweh (the Hebrew name of God) to be worshipped exclusively grates against our democratic sensibilities. We believe that we should be able to define who God is; Mary Lewis calls this “Franken-God” – Not the God who IS, but a god they’ve invented from pieces of other gods.   more...