I have students who “think” they are my favorites. And they are not wrong! I don’t know how they know because I will never say to a student, “You are my favorite,” but somehow it gets conveyed to them and they become confident enough to say that they are. (By the way, I never try […]
Proverbs 4:7–Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. NIV When I was a teenager I remember putting up a small fence with my uncle, and he would hand me certain tools without explaining what it was used for. To my embarrassment and shame, I didn’t want to pretend I […]
Are there some distinct events in your life that you could look back to that God did something significant in? You should not only remember such events, but perhaps get something physical to remind you of those events When the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan river to go into the promised land, God ordered the […]
Colossians 1:29-For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. I’ll never forget my first time on a mission trip to the Philippines, I had the opportunity to visit a village church, where I was scheduled to preach one morning sermon, teach one hour and a half session in the afternoon, and an […]
Every morning I hear the news from a Google device as I make my coffee. And without fail, there are news of a nation rising against a nation (Israel vs Hamas), a natural disaster somewhere in the world (India), and an upheaval of people for a certain cause (Myanmar). And this has been going on […]
I am convinced that more dangerous than poverty is our riches. I see the same pattern over and over. When a person is poor and desperate, he clutches onto God. But when his condition improves and becomes well, he forgets God. Has God made you rich? Has He given you a job, a family, a […]
Philippians 3:7-8-But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing ChristJesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ From time to time when I muster up the […]
Is there someone you trust with your life? You are absolutely convinced that this person will do what is best for you no matter what? How did you come to trust that person like that? …Because of his/her past acts. Someone like that in my life is my mother. For over 50 years, she has […]
John 15:1-3-“I am the true vine, and my Fatheris the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Lately my youngest daughter has gotten into gardening, and is really excited to see her herbs and vegetables […]
On day one, a wise teacher will clearly establish rules and expectations with his students. A teacher who does not do that only goes on the frustrate the well-meaning students as well as himself. Now, it is true that most young people hate rules. Until they get exposed to an environment where there is no rule! […]