Current research indicates that the title of a blog, podcast, or article saying “three ways…” or “three parts…” or “three reasons…” will gain more attention than a blog, podcast, or article headlining “two ways…” or “four parts…” or “five reasons…” Why does “three” work better? I have a theory. Read the following slowly, carefully, and […]
Reasons For the Rule of Three Read More »
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37, ESV) The Bible clearly depicts Jerusalem as the most important city in history. It’s the capital of ancient Israel
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Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:6, ESV). Fifty years ago, I had been in the ministry for two years and attended a large church in our community. And I was becoming frustrated with how the pastor led the church
[Timothy,] this is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you (2 Timothy 1:6, NLT). In 2 Timothy the Apostle Paul writes to his disciple Timothy. It’s the last letter that He writes in the New Testament. Through the years while reading
The OG* on 2 Timothy Read More »
When facing defeat read Psalm 18. It’s the victory Psalm. I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior (vv. 1-2a, NLT). The setting of Psalm 18 is David’s coronation as king. After being anointed as king by the prophet Samuel, then in the ensuing years running for his
Psalms on Saturday ~ Psalm 18: The Victory Psalm Read More »
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20, NLT). The word for “power” in the New Testament originates from the Greek word “dunamis.” And yes, we get the word “dynamite” from this word too. In
A Power of God Life Hack Read More »
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:6, ESV). While traveling outside the U.S.A. over 80 times and visiting churches in many countries around the world, I noticed one thing: an unusual “sameness.” In the U.S.A., Italy, Mexico, Cambodia, Russia, Belarus, the Philippines, and other countries,
The Releasing Church ~ Part Two Read More »
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Ephesians 4:7, ESV). During the past year, I’ve had dozens of conversations like this: OG*: “Where do you go to church?” Dozens**: “We’ve been drifting; sometimes we attend, but often we don’t. We’re having trouble feeling a purpose in our lives with
The Releasing Church ~ Part One Read More »
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust (Psalm 25:1-2a, ESV). I’ve prayed often, read many prayers, and listened to others pray for decades. I can summarize the motivations of all the impassioned prayers I’ve heard in three words: Delight, Desire, and Desperation! I’ve prayed from each of these motivations
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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1, ESV). The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome from about A.D. 60 to 62. In our New Testament, we have four books — Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon — written by Paul
Epistles from Prison Read More »