The Daily Memo

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people." Jude 1:3 (ESV) What does that mean to you? It struck me as extremely profound and relevant. We as believers have been subject to the enemy's assault since day one. But how do we handle that? Interestingly enough, this is the only place…

Laurence was in charge of the finances of the church. He was also a deacon. There was a great revival taking place all around him. It was said that ‘All of Rome were becoming Christians.’ As a result, persecution broke out under Emperor Valerian in around the year AD 250. Christians who owned property distributed all the church’s money and treasures to the city’s poor. Valerian ordered all bishops, priests, and deacons to be arrested and executed. He…

Colleen and I have embarked on a long and arduous journey to capture the essence of what's available for each believer in a book we've entitled Embracing Brokenness. Sound familiar? We've been writing off and on for over 2 years now. There's much that God has for us to communicate in this project. The most significant being the discovery of our true-self through the brokenness of our past. If that sounds like a big topic to tackle you would be correct.…

How do you react when you see people being hostile toward Christian beliefs? Do you let your anger simmer, get into an argument on Facebook, or just keep quiet? It’s difficult to know how to respond to those who show antagonism to our faith, but Peter gives us good advice in this passage. I Peter 3: 13-18 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR…

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. This seems like a good time to quote an old saying. “A lie gets halfway around the world…

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3: 16-18 ESV) Just so you understand what the boys said.…

We need Jesus like we need oxygen. Like we need water. Like the branch needs the vine. Jesus is not merely a figure for devotions. He is the missing essence of your existence. Whether we know it or not, we are desperate for Jesus. In John Eldredge’s book Beautiful Outlaw he describes Christs' characteristics, His life, and His love in such a vivid way. Unconventional, yet refreshingly frank and true. Most of my life I had this image of Jesus that looked more like…

José Henriquez was one of the thirty-three miners trapped 2,300 feet underground when a section of the San José copper mine in Northern Chile collapsed. It was 5 August 2010. For seventeen days all rescue attempts failed. There was no sign of life in the copper mine. The trapped miners had enough food for three days and a little drinking water. When José was interviewed he told how they had prayed to God for a miracle. He described the moment, on 22,…

Wow, how ‘bout that question? It popped up recently in an email I received from Got Questions. If you’re not familiar check it out at www.gotquestions.org Always interesting Q&A. Whether you agree or not with the answers, I’ve found it extremely thought-provoking and Biblically based in responses. But then again, there’s interpretation, right? Back to the question. Here’s how it was answered. I’m providing context for you to think…