BLOG––Encouraged by Faith

I watched comedian Josh Johnson on YouTube the other day. He said, “As a black guy from the South, I don’t think you’re racist until you attend your second Klan meeting.” He told a story about a friend who got invited to a backyard barbecue, like you do in the South. They...

The story of Job begins with a scene in God's courtroom. God talks to a prosecutor who has accused Job of duplicitous falsehood. "Job doesn't actually love you," the prosecutor says to God. "He just knows better than to bite the hand that feeds." By accusing Job as God’s faithful servant...

The expression “mountain top experience” actually comes from Matthew (and the other gospels) which relate the joy and amazement of the disciples when they saw Jesus being transfigured, but then found themselves in immediate conflict when they descended. It occurs to me that...

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) And from Psalm 126: When...

Most of my prayer life focuses on thanking God. Even when life is chaotic and exhausting, there’s always an abundance of blessings. I’m praying at my granddaughter Caroline’s bedside and a memory interjects. As I pray, a memory of flowers and of gathered friends and family...

Sometimes we have grand dreams of what we will do for God if we could just get away to travel to another place or if we were just at another stage of life. We do not intend to procrastinate, but ... Our personal situations will never be optimal for advancing God's kingdom. Legitimate obstacles...

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood....” Proverbs 6:16 - 17 “Haughty eyes” has several meanings, but in this post, I’m talking about self-righteousness as...

My heart goes out to those who are depressed in our worship assemblies.  Many people can rely on their personal temperaments to help them fully participate in corporate worship.  It's harder for ones who come to worship feeling dull, slow, even sad and...

I've read other books by Rachel Held Evans.  A couple of years ago I heard her present at a seminar.  She always has provocative things to say.  So it was with great anticipation that I sat down tonight to read her book “Inspired.”  (It also...

We are called to hospitality.  (I Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2; Matthew 25:31-46).  This includes not only our spiritual family but even strangers. How can we practice hospitality in the 21st century to strangers?  I suggest a minimal first step:  see...