The Reality of Our Present World

I can still picture that cardboard sword in my hand. Eight years old, backyard battlefield, drawbridge made from cutout flaps—ready to conquer the world with a shield I made from a refrigerator box. Back then, the story was simple. Good guys win. Evil loses. Life felt manageable. Safe. Predictable. But dragons grow up. And the lines between good and evil? They blur. Eventually, I found myself in a place where the story I thought I was living had unraveled—and I wasn&rsquo…

There’s a pattern woven throughout human history and the story of God’s people: renewal almost always follows crisis. That may seem backward to us. We crave comfort, order, predictability. But Scripture and history tell a different story. When everything stable is shaken—when the idols of culture, self-reliance, or prosperity begin to crumble—something holy begins to stir. Mark Sayers, in a recent conversation with John and Blaine Eldredge, described…

My friend Matthew McConaughey is at it again, and I just can’t help but draw a life lesson from his reflection on success. Here we go. The first Webster’s Dictionary in 1806 described success as:“Prosperous, fortunate, happy, and kind.”Today’s dictionaries define success as:“The attainment of wealth, fame, rank, and power.” What’s your definition of success? Meet Jeanie. She’s from a small town on the Gulf Coast of.…

Your opinion! A friend shared this with me recently. I had to share it with you. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” • Why it fits: This shows that God wants us to trust His wisdom over our own opinions. Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the…

Scientists unveiled something stunning—a colorized 3D reconstruction of the largest mammalian brain map ever created. Using just a cubic millimeter of neural tissue (roughly the size of a grain of sand) from a mouse’s brain, researchers identified over 200,000 neurons, 523 million neural connections, and produced 22 years’ worth of HD video data from that tiny fragment alone. Let that sink in. To collect the data, the researchers showed short video clips ,…

As we enter the Spring season, it’s a pleasant reminder of God’s faithfulness. Spring is the season of new beginnings, a time of renewal and rebirth, and a reminder of Gods loving promise of new life. I like this quote from Goodreads: “Spring signifies hope for renewal, birth/rebirth, new love/romance, and starting anew. It's a season that reminds us that change is possible and that there's always room for growth.” Spring is also a time to…

Steve has had issues with his back for the last ten years, which at times are debilitating. As a result, he needs solid lumbar support in any chair he sits in for more than a few minutes. Being in full-time ministry, there is not much money left for extras. We purchased a good office chair for Steve, and in the evenings, when we spend time together, he rolls that chair into the living room, as our other furniture does not provide enough support. However, that solution was…

A friend of mine just listed a property for sale at nearly $2 million. Over 8,000 square feet with acres of land and a beautiful built-in pool and deck, it’s an impressive home. I looked at the size, the majestic architecture, the circular driveway and entrance with all the upscale accoutrements. I remembered a day when I would have lusted after such opulence. Honestly, this home would not have been big enough for me. I accumulated some pretty cool stuff. Oceanfront,…

How should we respond when we find ourselves in the midst of difficult circumstances? How do we navigate through the challenging terrain of life, when our path winds downward into the valley, as inevitably it will? We all love mountaintop experiences, the sweet smell of success, and the thrill of victory. When all is right in the world, and our joy is at its zenith, we long to cling to those seasons and would likely stay there forever if we could. But on this side of,…