When we look at what Jesus is saying here, it could easily be viewed as discouraging. Jesus goes straight to the point and says that the world will hate us. The world is going to persecute us. We will be treated poorly. We are going to face many oppositions and trials. Jesus doesn't just say that these things could happen, he says they will happen. All of this will happen because we choose to foll...  Read More

I fear that sometimes in our lives, it’s easier to run, to stray, and to wander away. The more numb you can grow toward the pursuit of God in your life, the grip he has on your soul, and the weight with which he convicts your heart, the better chance we feel we have to live a peaceable life. If there is no one around to convict, to question, and to challenge us, then we can eat, drink and be merry...  Read More

Sometimes we need someone to talk to in the midst of a struggle. I have had the privilege over the years of counseling several couples who were on the verge of divorce. What they needed was God’s Word in a practical and achievable approach. When they decided to obey the truth that I was conveying, God did the miracle in their lives saving their marriages. There is a simple method for success, all ...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:    The disciples were dependent on Jesus, and Jesus was about to ascend back to God the Father in heaven. They never “signed up” for Jesus to leave them. In fact, they were absolutely not ready for it. It’s such a teachable moment for all of us. Would it be easier for a young child to ride his bike with training wheels for the rest of his life? Would it be easier to bowl w...  Read More

Here we are on the cusp of entering Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving these days seems to be less of a time celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year, and more about shopping for the best Black Friday deals and putting up the Christmas tree. Christmas can be such a fun and exciting season, but for many, it can be a time of grief, sadness, and financial struggle.  I recall one such...  Read More

I was born a worrywart. Growing up, my siblings would tease me incessantly. Over the years I’ve gotten much better and don’t sweat the small stuff, but my wife would readily admit that I still tend to over-think things (a euphemism for worrywart, which I prefer). I tend to think things out to the second or third ripple. Now my wife would also admit that this “over-thinking” saved our bacon more th...  Read More