Have you ever heard a symphony orchestra warming up just before a show? The sound of chaos and discord echo throughout the auditorium as the musicians loudly tune their instruments all at the same time. Sounds of disorder fill the air until the conductor stands up and silences the room; then he proceeds to lead them into a song in … Read More
Secret Petitions
“This story will make you believe in God.” That is what Jeremy and I tell people who ask us how we first met. It was the summer of 2006. I was twenty-three and living in Branson, Missouri. For some reason, I had the desire to attend a conference that August in Fort Worth, Texas. I had never been and didn’t … Read More
Thanksgiving Therapy
Each time I travel, I can’t help but pick up a phrase or two from the cultures that I visit. My favorite would have to be two plain but incredibly powerful words: THANK YOU. In Mexico, they say, “Gracias.” Some in South Africa say, “Dankie.” In Israel and in Hebrew it’s, “Toda.” In Hawaii, “Mahalo,” and in Australia, simply put, … Read More
The Adventure Club
As a kid I craved adventure. There was nothing more exciting than following a handmade map to find a treasure buried deep in the backyard. My brothers and I spent countless hours exploring the woods that surrounded our house, searching for bugs or rocks or anything exciting that forced us to venture out of the mundane and into the unknown. … Read More
All About The Heart
“Above everything else, guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.” King Solomon left us a buried treasure in the book of Proverbs: thirty-one chapters of wealth and wisdom straight from God’s heart. But to me there is one gold-nugget verse that stands out above the other gems. Proverbs 4:23 begins with these three attention-gripping words: “ABOVE … Read More
Every Soul Needs A Shepherd
Can you imagine what it would have felt like to be those shepherds on that starry night in the fields of Bethlehem: all of the sudden God’s glory lights up the sky, and His angel army, so ecstatic for us, can’t hold in the news of Jesus any longer. With all their might, they cry out, “Glory to God in … Read More
What You See Is What You Get
Many of us have become accustomed sitting in services, hearing sermons that revolve around steps—the how tos and the 1,2,3s. We want those we admire to give us the secrets to their successes and the quick fixes that will produce change in our lives. Even as ministers, there is a temptation to simply tell people, “Do this, and you’ll get … Read More