It is one thing to know for yourself the weight of shame and to seek to walk free of its burden. There is tremendous courage required to name shame for what it is and identify its place in the story of your life and heart. The journey away from shame is always a lonely road, […]
There are approximately 6,500 unreached people groups and roughly 1,200 unengaged people groups on planet earth. All are image bearers of God. None are worshipping Jesus. What does this mean for the church? It means at least one thing: we pray. Here are seven reasons (though there are many other reasons) and two ways (though […]
“Humble yourselves.” That’s the secret. It has been there all along, but we rarely use it. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) Fear and anxiety sufferers like myself […]
Nobody Likes the Idea of Submission I am writing this blog from overseas where my family and I have spent the last 4 months submitting to an international adoption process that was supposed to take 6 weeks. I don’t understand why it’s taken so long. I don’t agree with parts of the process, and I […]
When your son asks you in time to come, “What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?” then you shall say to your son, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. […]
Many Christian ministries, including Bethlehem College & Seminary, are like bumblebees that fly despite their inherent aerodynamic limitations. However, something is at work that moves beyond efficient systems, human leadership, and slick operations (though we strive for efficient systems, solid leadership, and healthy operations). Bethlehem College & Seminary’s success is typical of our Heavenly Father […]
Whether it’s protesters on college campuses or on the city streets, or political candidates vying for our attention and our votes, or media analysis of the same, we are inundated by information intended to influence our thinking. Try as we may to filter and assess all the messages coming at us, the sheer volume of […]
In the early 1990’s, I was serving as a marketing consultant to a large architectural firm that was principally engaged in the design of public school buildings. The firm asked a public policy expert, Bill Strauss, to meet with us to share his intriguing new views about the then-emerging cohort of elementary students who were […]
In Acts 9, we read that Saul of Tarsus encountered the glorious God. Saul, blind to the truth, did not know him (2 Cor. 4:4). The deity, however, knew him: “Saul, Saul.” The Creator addressed him by name. “Why are you persecuting me?” The Pharisee who was advancing in Judaism beyond his peers (Gal. 1:14) […]
When Rick Segal was transitioning to his new post as Vice President for Advancement at Bethlehem College & Seminary, he made an appointment to see me. He brought a list of 44 questions he wanted to discuss. He entered my office, and after we prayed, I said, “Before we tackle your 44 questions, I would […]