Spiritual

Spiritual discernment is the ability to see things from the Lord’s viewpoint. That means being able not only to separate truth from error but also to grasp the finer distinction between what is good and what is best. But how can we acquire such a skill? In his classic work My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers gives us the answer. He writes, “Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your…

Listen In 2019, research exploring the spiritual heritage of believers in Jesus in the United States revealed that mothers and grandmothers have a significant influence on spiritual development. Nearly two-thirds of people who claim a legacy of faith credited their mother, and one-third acknowledged that a grandparent (usually a grandmother) also played a significant role. The report’s editor remarked, “Over and over, this study speaks to the enduring impact of…

“Our globe is being shaken harder and harder by the forces of chaos. As it’s shaken, so are we. The more chaotic it is, the more shook-up everyone in it tends to become. It’s like trying to do everyday life in a continuous earthquake. Or in a swirling snowstorm. It’s hard to gain our bearings. To think straight. To see what’s really going on.” Allen Arnold – Chaos Can’t I remember, very clearly, a time in my life when the only…

I know I shouldn’t be amazed but I still am. When God decides to invade our world in a completely unexpected way. It’s all He wants to do. Every day. Colleen and I were meandering down the street in Stone Harbor after a filling, and I mean filling, breakfast. We saw a four-legged friend we had encountered the day before but without a personal introduction. A gorgeous white lab that captured our heart. Especially my wife’s heart, who I often call Dr..…

Reminding myself of what my step 4th cousin 6x removed, John Adams, once said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” See how I worked my lineage into that? Ancestry.com holds a treasure trove of facts if you’re willing to do your homework. As has become an annual tradition for me I ask God what His focus word is for the…

I’m a big Disney fan. Maybe that’s why my daughter holds the world record for visits to Disneyworld, Disneyland, and photos with Mickey and friends - even in her 30's - influenced largely by Mom and Dad of course. One of my all-time favorite Disney movies is The Lion King. There’s a particular scene that caught my attention recently - and you say – “You just watched the Lion King?”. Why yes, I did – funny you should ask.…

Did you know that there are at least 10 beautiful flowers that only bloom at night? One of those is the Red flare tropical water lily. I continue to be amazed and enamored by God’s creation. We can learn so much through nature. I was particularly struck by the oddity of flowers blooming at night. My innate instinct was to believe the Sun and daylight produce the most vibrant of colors, in most every living thing. Ah, but therein lies the dichotomy. Is it possible that…

At the height of my career I was fortunate enough (depending on your perspective) to have experienced some of the finer things in life. Luxury cars, a boat in the Chesapeake, condo in Antigua, oceanfront vacation home in North Carolina, and at-will travel to some of the most amazing places in this hemisphere. Staying at some of the finest hotels including The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, a place in Philly that was once called the Bellevue Stratford, and even a…

I just completed a fiction novel by Joel Rosenberg entitled The Third Target. The main character in the story is J.B. Collins. A New York Times award winning columnist covering most of the activity in the Middle East. Rosenberg’s writing has a distinct and prophetic tone to it. As J.B. is considering his fate and the after-life his brother - a born-again Christian - often challenges him to go deeper into the meaning of his existence and what happens after death. Late…