The greatest attack on a local church is often not what “comes from without” in culture but what “comes from within” in community. We must guard against disunity! The Apostle Paul was coming to the end of his passionate letter to the Philippian church. This was a church of great sacrifice and joy. This was a church of great service and community. One thing threatened their future influence for Chr...  Read More

2 Peter 2:16Two weeks ago, we celebrated Independence Day. Here in the United States, you can visit just about any town and join in the festivities; watch a fireworks display, enjoy a patriotic parade, feast at a barbecue, or gather with family at the lake. It's a day to commemorate freedom. Freedom is defined as the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restra...  Read More

2 Timothy 3:1-5Just before I retired from the Air Force in 2010, we thought it would be fun to do one final family trip. It would culminate not only my Air Force career, but also our time living in Germany, and the last time before we would become empty nesters as our oldest graduated from high school that same year. We took a cruise that sailed out of Pisa, Italy, and would take us to Croatia, Gr...  Read More

Galatians 5:13I imagine we all spent time over the 4th of July weekend celebrating with friends and family. Maybe you even went to see fireworks, shot them off yourselves, and at the bare minimum, I know we all heard them when we were trying to sleep in the middle of the night. With all that being said, we spend a whole weekend celebrating the freedom we have by living in America. It is so easy to...  Read More

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Last year, my Women's Bible Study group studied the book of Titus on Right Now Media by Chip Ingram. Chip opens the study with these words on the first video, “My excuse for not becoming a Christian was… Christians. They said ‘this’ but lived a different way. Our beliefs and behaviors need to tell the same story.” Whether we like it or not, people are watching us! When you ide...  Read More

Genesis 19:26 In Paul's letter to the Philippians, we see him instructing them not to look back but to keep their eyes fixed on the prize that is Jesus Christ. This reminds me of a story found in Genesis, where we see Lot and his wife. If you know it at all, you know that Lot's wife did look back even though the Lord commanded them not to.   In Genesis 19, we see two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, th...  Read More