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Others have a profound impact on us, whether for good or bad. The Scriptures remind us of this in a variety of ways. Proverbs 27:17 NLT says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” And the apostle Paul urged us, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV) But we’re also warned, “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

The other day I began thinking back over some of the key people in my life who had a profound impact in modeling Christlikeness for me. My parents played a huge role in demonstrating the lifestyle of a Christ follower for me. They were human, sinners and had weaknesses just like everybody else, but their lives were also on a continual upward trajectory of growth in Christ. Who they were in private at home was who they were in any and all other settings. [Read more →]

When I was 12 years old our church launched a campaign to raise pledges for missions for the coming year. The church leadership challenged us to spend time asking God what amount he would have us trust him for. Our leadership also led by example. God had given me a vision for reaching the lost around the world and I knew that he wanted to use me in a small way to see that vision accomplished. I prayed and sensed that he wanted me to trust him to give $4.00 per week through me.

As a 12-year-old I received a dollar per week for my allowance, so I couldn’t simply divert what was already coming in to my giving. I prayed that God would give me opportunities to earn enough to meet my pledge of $4.00 per week for the next year. I still remember how excited I was that morning in church when I turned in my pledge card. I knew I was embarking on an adventure with God and I could hardly wait to see how he would work in my life! [Read more →]

When I was twelve years old I went to camp for the first time. One of the highlights of camp for any twelve-year-old boy was swimming in the lake on a hot summer day. But the oversight of a couple hundred high-energy boys is a huge responsibility for the camp staff! They knew there were too many boys and too few staff to provide a safe swimming environment.

So, to make swimming safer they established the “buddy-system”. We were not allowed in the water without our buddy. And when the whistle blew we grabbed each other’s hand and raised our hands high to show that we had our buddy and that everyone was safe and accounted for. [Read more →]

In Luke 5:11, Luke tells us about one of Jesus’ first encounters with Peter, James and John. After hearing Jesus teach and seeing him miraculously fill their nets with fish, these fishermen “left everything and followed him.” Now think back to the initial occasion when you decided to follow Jesus Christ. What was going on in your life? In what ways did Christ change your life?

I first surrendered my life to Christ as a four-year-old child and grew up in a Christian home. But when I was 19 I realized my Christian life was stale. I was focused on me and my performance for God. At that time I attended Bible college, but had to leave after a semester for lack of funds. Even at Bible college I was running with the wrong crowd. I knew and said all the right things, but my relationship with God was shallow. I was a phony. [Read more →]

A few days ago we looked at Abraham’s ever increasing faith in God in spite of the ever dwindling likelihood that he and Sarah would have a child. We saw in Romans 4 that this acount was written for our benefit.

Just a few verses further Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:1-2 NLT) [Read more →]

Sometimes we never know how people will speak into our lives.  And if we are willing to listen and consider the words, God can drastically change our lives. It happened to me this morning while enjoying a piece of toast with my daughter.

I had her perched on our kitchen island and I asked her the question (not knowing what kind of answer, if any, I was going to receive), “Hattie, what are YOU going to wear to church today?”  She looked up at me with her beautiful, big brown eyes and peanut butter and jelly spread all over her face and emphatically replied, “JESUS!”  I stood there stunned, speechless, silent.  Then it hit me – was I going to “wear Jesus” today?  Conviction rolled over me, because I don’t “wear Him” everyday.  Was I going to wear Jesus today?  Not just at church where it is easy.  What about the rest of the week, where it is not easy? [Read more →]

One of the best strategies we can follow in this troubled economy is to refuse to play the victim. The sooner each of us takes personal responsibility for our finances, the sooner we will collectively recover. But as long as you or I play the victim, we will not win. Victims see themselves as victims—the product of their circumstances and others’ cruelty. For victims, the blame always rests on someone or something else. Victims see themselves under the crushing weight of uncontrollable forces. And for that reason victims cannot win.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we never suffer under the hand of others and unfortunate circumstances. What I am saying is that we must refuse to live under the illusion that we are stuck in our “victim” state due to problems and forces beyond our control. Our daily choices matter—a lot! If you’re prone to playing the victim, stop blaming others and circumstances for the condition you find yourself in. Otherwise, you will live out a self-fulfilling prophecy, because victims never win. [Read more →]

Sometimes we read a passage like John 15:9-10 and slip into a transactional frame of mind. Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

From a transactional viewpoint, one might reason from this passage that God’s love for us hinges on our obedience. In other words, “If you don’t obey him, he won’t love you.” But we cannot keep with sound doctrine and claim that the Father’s love for Jesus was contingent on Jesus’ obedience. Yet that’s what a transactional viewpoint would demand from this passage. Such thinking is pagan and foreign to the Scriptures.

Remaining, abiding or living in God’s love is totally relational. The connection Jesus gives us here between remaining in his love and obedience is very simple—and very relational. In fact, I just witnessed this truth the other day observing my grandson, Jack. Jack was being mean to his sister and disobedient to his parents. In his disobedience, he became aloof from his parents and interacted with them in pride, anger and rebellion. [Read more →]

The Box

“Maria, would you come in here, please?” The doctor called out from his office where he was packing his personal belongings. This was his last workday before retirement.

Maria appeared in the doorway, eager to help where she was needed. She had come to work at the medical clinic as office manager two-and-a-half years ago right out of college. “What can I do for you, Doctor?” [Read more →]

I attended a funeral of a man today who passed away in his sleep on Wednesday. His five children officiated at the funeral service. Each one stood up and shared with the guests how their dad loved the Lord, their mother, them and others deeply and sacrificially. Many tears were shed and many joyful memories were shared.

This man had five children—four boys and a girl—all of whom are happily married and walking with Jesus because of their dad’s example. Additionally, this man left 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, all of whom either know Jesus or are seeing their parents demonstrate how a Christ-follower lives. His kids and their spouses all love each other and enjoy spending time with each other—certainly a rare phenomenon today.

The man passionately loved people. In his eleven-year tenure as credit manager of a large metropolitan hospital, he led countless patients, their loved ones and co-workers to living faith in Jesus Christ. As an accomplished musician and entertainer, he offered free concerts annually to benefit the hospital. [Read more →]