Deep Well Discipleship

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) "...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." While leaving the care center yesterday I sat and talked with one of the residents.  She told me that when she was a little girl she was deathly afraid of lightening and storms at night.  One night when one particularly large thunderstorm was moving through she cried out for her mother.  When her mom came in the room she put her arms around her and said "Don't worry, it will be daylight soon." The Bible is full of example of light and darkness.  Darkness is used to describe wickedness (Prov 2:13-14), Judgement (Exodus 10:21), death (Psalm 88:12), and separation from God (Matthew 22:13).  Darkness evokes thoughts of fear and isolation.  Children fear the night, they are scared of the darkness because everything is hidden and unseen.  Darkness describes our spiritual separation from God.  Isaiah 9:2 speaks of this da...

Waiting..... I can be a very impatient person.  I'm trying to sell a home that is 900 plus miles away and cannot be there to talk to potential buyers, to fix problems, to deal with my real estate agent, etc...  Patience is difficult because waiting is hard...  My brother in law was recently diagnosed with cancer and as they wait for test results I find myself impatient.  You want to know what is wrong and what will be done and how long it will take and what the prognosis is and, well the ands go on and on.  Waiting is down right problematic because even though we are in Christ our flesh wants immediate answers, results, etc... Before you chide me, Yes I know that patience is a fruit of the Spirit and as a Christian I am to bear this fruit, but I still find myself being impatient.  Let me explain.  As a pastor I look at the landscape of the church and see such potential.  My human nature is to immediately jump to action and take control. ...

Whatever your thoughts are about the President of the United States one thing is certain, that has to be a lonely place.  As the leader of the nation you are on stage for everyone to see 24 hours a day.  When you are on vacation you are scrutinized for where you went, how you got there, and what you are doing.  Every decision you make is analyzed and spun in multiple directions to feed the political masses along party lines.  You may or may not agree or like the President, but the one thing I am certain of I wouldn't want that task.  His role of leadership defines not only the nation but who he is as well.  People much less qualified than the president constantly call him out, claim they can do better, and always reference all of the problems that he has not taken care of while diminishing anything good as mediocre at best.  In todays world critics hide behind blogs, tweets, and Facebook profiles - criticizing without offering solution (or outrageous s...

This Easter many people will head out to church services across America.  Many will make their first of two or so appearances in Church for some reason or another.  Many will come who have been out of the habit and many who are "testing" out a new church because they are unhappy with their present congregation (for whatever reason).  Many come because they have been invited to attend Easter services and they have never attended church or haven't in many years.  Whatever the reason they come and we are grateful for that on one hand but grieved on the other.  Happy to see the body come together but sad that Hebrews 10:25 (not forsaking the fellowship of believers) is only important a few times a year.  This week while sitting and talking with a precious saint I was given some unique insight regarding this issue. On Tuesday morning after Bible study at the local nursing home I found myself sitting and talking with an incredible lady.  She began to share...