Only the Middle of the Story
“And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:5 NIV) I’ve always loved books and movies where it seems like the villain has outsmarted the hero and then all of a sudden, the tables turn, and the hero was really a step ahead the whole time. As the “how” is revealed, it turns out that lots of little things I hadn’t even noticed or that seemed insignificant at the time turn out to be crucially important when they all come together...
read moreImmeasurably More
(This article was originally published in August 2006.) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Eph. 3:20a NIV) When I was visiting a church last week, they played the song “He is Able,” and its lyrics caught my attention in a new way. He is able, more than able, To accomplish what concerns me today. He is able, more than able, To handle anything that comes my way. He is able, more than able, To do much more than I could ever dream. He is able, more than able, To make me what He wants me to be. (words and...
read moreGod’s Side
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” (Joshua 5: 13-14 NIV) This summer, Pastor Mark has been leading us through a series on how Joshua became a leader among the Israelites, and he has brought up...
read moreComing and Going
The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV) Psalm 121 begins with, “I lift my eyes up to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,” and ends with the verses above. When I travel, I always fear the worst that can happen. My family might argue that I still think I’m invincible, with an adventurous streak and all, but during any trip—whether for work or fun, with my...
read moreDirect My Steps
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. (Psalm 32:8-9 NASB) In my early days as a Christian, in the late ’70s, I wanted to do God’s will in everything. Big things, little things, in everything I wanted to do what God wanted. I may have been a bit obsessive about it, which I attribute to the fact that I was/am...
read moreDistracted Living
…[L]et us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NIV) Much has been written about the difficulty of paying focused attention in today’s ultra-connected world. Distraction has negatively affected people’s work, leisure, parenting, and relationships. But I had never thought about how it affects Christians’ ability to tell people about our faith. What brought that to mind was...
read moreThe Lonely Boat
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NASB) Recently there’s been a slide up on the screen during Creekside worship that shows a rowboat alone in a colorful sea. I don’t know the purpose of that slide, but it starts a whole thread of thinking in me. In the early ’80s, when Kent and I moved from California to Washington, we left long-established friends, church...
read moreSecret Ninja Skills and God’s Calling
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… (Colossians 3:23 NIV) I remember clearly the day I discovered that one of my programmer colleagues had been, in his “past life” (i.e., before his computer career), both a professional chef on a cruise ship and a Division I college hockey player. We were amazed, since he had seemed to be a garden-variety nerd like the rest of us at the lunch table. Of course, we pelted him with questions, and his stories did not disappoint. We called those unknown...
read moreSpreading the Word in Today’s World
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26 NIV) Quite often in recent years, when I have attended a major public event such as a Mariners game or a concert, I have seen or heard someone on the surrounding block outside attempting to bring people to Jesus. These individuals, usually with the aid of a megaphone and several large signs, speak of Jesus as the only path to salvation. It is practically impossible not to hear them, even if you are only driving past. They conjure up images of fire and end...
read moreLaughing with God
“Sarah said, God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6 NIV) I love to laugh and giggle. When I was growing up, my siblings and I laughed and giggled so much that we would get a bit too rowdy. Did you know there’s such a thing as a “Laughter Club”? I was first introduced to the official “laughter movement” this year at school. The idea is that prolonged laughter in a group helps mood and is a form of exercise. I felt silly trying to laugh for five minutes straight, but I will say it felt...
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