Wednesday's Word

I was very nervous on my first day as a seminary student. I was hoping that I could slip in and out without being noticed, so I found an empty table in the library before my first class. Of course, the library filled up, and I wasn't alone for long. Two other students sat next to me and began to discuss the love of God. The discussion soon turned into a debate. Then the debate turned into a heated argument. By the end, a third student had to intervene because these two guys were... Read More

I enjoy a comfortable, predictable, and pleasurable life. How about you? If I could experience a life free from difficulty, pain, inconvenience, and struggle ... sign me up! This includes silly, unrealistic wishes, like wanting to drive on roads paid for by other citizens who choose not to use them. Or chocolate at ready reach, without the consequence of weight gain. It also includes hard-hitting realities: a life-altering illness, a tragic accident, the death of a loved one, the... Read More

One of my brothers used to live on a farm, and one summer he asked if I could help him bale the hay. It was all cut and ready to bale when a little dark cloud appeared on the horizon. The weather forecast didn't call for rain, so we weren't concerned ... and then it rained for one week straight. The hay turned black, and we helplessly watched thousands of dollars rot before our eyes. How did my brother respond? I'll never forget it. He said with sincerity, "Paul,... Read More

Do you ever feel as if your Christian faith is like a roller coaster ride? Sometimes my spiritual life feels that way. There are seasons when my faith feels sky high and rock solid. I'm confident in the Lord's plans for my life, my identity is secure in Christ alone, and my excitement for the gospel can barely be contained. And then there are the low points, when the opposite feels true. I know you can relate. Why do we experience such highs and lows? Of course, there are... Read More

On October 19, 2014, my life changed. I was in acute renal failure and didn't know it. If I had waited another week to see a doctor, I would have been dead. During my ten-day hospital stay, I experienced the most horrible pain I had ever experienced. This was followed by six surgeries in two years, rendering me physically weaker than I had ever been in my life. If my physical suffering wasn't enough, I was equally as discouraged emotionally and spiritually. These two years of... Read More

Last week I asked if you believed in the existence of God. Today I want to ask a similar question with another obvious answer. Do you believe in the Word of God? Before you answer, remember: the Christian faith is dramatically more than just an intellectual belief. It's not enough for us to simply believe that the Word of God is true, living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Our faith in, and study of, the Bible should radically change our life at street-level. I love what Hebrews 11... Read More

Do you believe that God exists? I'm guessing that if you subscribe to my email list and opted-in to receive biblical teaching every week, you believe. If you believe in the existence of God, that means you have faith, right? Yes … but it's not that simple. According to the Bible's definition, if you have faith, it also should mean that you have drawn near to God, that you seek to please him, and that you value what he values (Hebrews 11:6) Is that the reality of... Read More

When you woke up today, what was the first thing you hoped for? Maybe it was for a better night of sleep. Or a pain-free day. Or a traffic-free commute. Maybe you hoped for a successful presentation at work. Or perhaps you just hoped that someone had left you something for breakfast! Maybe, by grace, you hoped to please the Lord with everything you thought, said, and did. Perhaps you hoped for opportunities to minister or witness to lost and hurting people. Everybody is motivated by... Read More

Have you ever tried to cram final words of instruction into the ears of someone, right before you leave them on their own to do something significant? Maybe that's as a parent, dropping a child off at overnight camp or university. Maybe that's as a coach or teammate, right before the big game starts. Maybe that's as a co-worker or boss, in the moments leading up to that huge presentation. Whenever I read Deuteronomy 10:12—22, I feel like I'm listening in on a similar... Read More

Shrink wrap was a genius invention. The scientific brilliance behind it is that it always shrinks down to the exact size of whatever it has been wrapped around. Whether it's a piece of beef jerky or a boat in winter storage, the plastic molecules contour to the shape of the item to preserve and protect it. Sin has a similar effect to shrink wrap, but not in a beneficial way. On the contrary, our sinful hearts cause damage by shrinking our life down to the size of selfish desires. ... Read More