Have you ever wondered what heaven is really like? Scripture gives us some glimpses of heaven and the New Jerusalem. We read about the pearly gates, the streets of gold, the tree of life and the flowing river. We know every tear will be wiped away. Yet, there is quite […]
Rural Stories from MyHope With Billy Graham…
This fall, I had the opportunity to do several youth worker trainings as part of the MyHope America with Billy Graham Campaign, and I got to connect with a lot of great people that are passionate about sharing Christ with their friends and neighbors. One of the things that resonated […]
What’s the deal with Hell?
What is Hell really like? This is a question I get from time to time from eager learners. After watching Hollywood (and culture) depict Hell and Satan, many people are confused about what the Bible actually says about the place of eternal damnation. Let’s get a few things straight. Hell […]
I Know A Guy….
Last weekend brought a snowstorm like I have never seen before. I grew up in the midwest, and have seen and done some really crazy things in snow and ice, but this was beyond anything else. We had temps, not wind chills of -12 and spent approximately 2 days straight […]
Why do we suffer?
Sometimes in ministry, I get a question that I just can’t answer. It might be someone, deep in anguish and grief, who wants to know why it happened? Why are they suffering? Why did the event occur that caused them pain? It’s during those moments, as I sit silently, that […]
A Very Fortunate Christmas Tale
I feel truly fortunate this Christmas. Last night, as my family returned home to my mother-in-law’s house, we noticed the distinct smell of natural gas. It was strong, and not the first time we had noticed it that day. Still, trying to get in from the cold, we hurried to […]
Follow Good Advice
A few years ago, someone came to me for advice about her job. Karen, a long-time employee of the company, was having personality and philosophy conflicts with her new boss. He’d been there less than a year and within six months, the relationship soured. Personality-wise, they clashed. His leadership style did […]
Why a Christmas Tree?
Why do we use a Christmas tree?I mean, a nativity makes sense, even if some of the items and people in the displays are inaccurate. But where does a tree come in to the equation? According to legend and tradition, the Christmas tree tradition started with Martin Luther (the Reformation […]