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Jesus
107 pages- Post 124Bill Perkins
How Jesus Responds To Sincere Doubt
How Jesus Responds To Sincere Doubt "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20.28) "Thomas? was not with them when Jesus came." (Jn 20.24) The room was alivewith the storyThomas missed. Hands movedas they retold it.Voices roseas each man addedhis…
Jesus - Post 120Bill Perkins
Friday
Friday "Did not our hearts burn within us as He spoke to us on the road, as He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Lu 24:32) Where to Find Jesus "Did not our hearts burn within usas He spoke to us on the road,as He opened the Scriptures to us?"
Jesus - Post 68Bill Perkins
Jesus May Be Delayed, But He's Never Late
Jesus May Be Delayed, But He's Never Late "Do not fear, only believe." (Mark 5:36) "Do not fear, only believe." Mark 5:36 The laughter that once filled his home-now silent.Each breath-thinner than a thread.Each moment-the last grain…
JesusLife of Jesus - Post 62Bill Perkins
The Fifth Most Important Question Jesus Asked
The Fifth Most Important Question Jesus Asked Jesus walks into a crowded courtyard in Jerusalem,near the Pool of Bethesda-a place where the sick, blind, and paralyzed gather,hoping for healing. One man has been there 38 years,lying on…
JesusLife of Jesus - Post 30Bill Perkins
Why Jesus Confused the Crowd on Purpose
Why Jesus Confused the Crowd on Purpose Scripture: "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" -John 6:68 Jesus didn't always aim to be understood. Sometimes He said things that stirred questions-"Eat my flesh.…
Jesus - Post 3992Bill Perkins
How to See Jesus
Several years ago, Cindy and I vacationed on the tiny island of Bonaire. Situated fifty miles from Venezuela it’s known as the scuba shore diving capitol of the world. One evening we sat at a table on a restaurant pier. As the sun set…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 3976Bill Perkins
Read This on Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, join me in thanking God for something we easily take for granted. In Psalm 139:14-15 David wrote: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and…
FamilyGod - Post 3966Bill Perkins
Before Making An Alliance--Do This!
Seldom has a leader made a more ill advised alliance than Lot. Initially, the union appeared as harmless as choosing a Coke instead of a Pepsi. I Might Have Made The Same Decision I’m sympathetic to Lot because in his situation I might…
GodLeadershipPersonal GrowthRelationships - Post 3963Bill Perkins
The Joy of Spiritual Flight
You were designed for commitment just as a plane is designed for the sky. Nobody who tiptoes through life, as though sneaking through a minefield, will become a force for the kingdom of God. The level of your spiritual growth will be…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 3938Bill Perkins
People Who See Miracles Have This
Since March 2012 I've read through the Gospels every month. And one of the greatest lessons I've learned is this: With Jesus, your expectation will determine his visitation in your life. This isn't a theory but an observable fact…
GodHealingPersonal GrowthPrayer - Post 3895Bill Perkins
A Deep Look At God's Holiness
God is the reality I believe people seek in the extraterrestrial. He exists apart from and above His creation. Perhaps that’s why the word “holy” is used more often as a prefix to God’s name than any other attribute. I think most…
God - Post 3889Bill Perkins
The Key to Success in Everything
Immediate gratification is a driving force in our lives. We expect pain to suddenly vanish. We want quick and easy success. Our expectations are in keeping with what we see on the media—men get sex whenever they want it, relational…
FamilyGodMarriagePersonal Growth - Post 3868Bill Perkins
Ride Out Your Pain
We’ve all experienced our share of physical, psychological, emotional and mental pain. And when we feel squeezed, like a tennis ball in a vise, we want relief . . . now! Pain's Not Your Enemy At such times it’s important to remember…
GodHealingPersonal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 3839Bill Perkins
Change How You View Adversity
Why? It’s the question that hits first and lingers longest. Why me? Why now? Why this? Most people don’t even try to answer such questions. How could they? That’s what makes the words of James, the half-brother of Jesus, so unexpected.…
Personal Growth - Post 3832Bill Perkins
Do This Before Every Decision
If the greatest leader of all time—the only man who lived without sin, who never made a bad decision, who lived in perfect harmony with his Father—if that man needed to discuss decisions with God prior to making them, how much more do…
GodPersonal GrowthPrayerCollected Essays - Post 3817Bill Perkins
To Serve Others Best, Do This First
Dale Carnegie once said, “No man gets rich without enriching others.” Carnegie lived that philosophy, as evidenced by the 43 millionaires who worked for him. One day a reporter asked Mr. Carnegie how he was able to hire so many rich men.
GodJesusLeadershipPersonal Growth - Post 3800Bill Perkins
Was Jesus Superman?
It’s understandable to think we could no more emulate Jesus than we could Superman. We might shadow Clark Kent up a flight of stairs, but we’re not going to follow the Man of Steel off a tall building. Likewise, most people figure they…
HealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 3792Bill Perkins
Why Are You Discouraged?
When you're discouraged, find out why. During a time of despair, the author of Psalm 42:4-5, wrote: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”…
GodPersonal GrowthPrayer - Post 3784Bill Perkins
The Cure for a Competitive Spirit
Comparisons are odious. If we compare ourselves to someone higher on the food chain we feel inadequate. If we gaze at someone who has less money, education, power, good looks or toys, we feel superior. Let’s not kid ourselves, we all…
JesusPersonal Growth - Post 3778Bill Perkins
Leading When You'd Rather Hide
Leaders sometimes face intractable opposition. The resistance seems too strong, too entrenched and too organized. Resources seem too limited. That’s how Moses felt when God appeared to him in the burning bush and said, “I am sending…
GodLeadershipPersonal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 3769Bill Perkins
Leap Into God's Grace
Jesus performed amazing miracles. He opened the eyes of the blind, healed lepers, cast out demons, and raised the dead. In each case, Jesus did for others what they couldn’t do for themselves. At its core, that’s what Christianity is about.
GodPersonal GrowthHoly Spirit - Post 3756Bill Perkins
A Purpose for Human Suffering
Why? It’s the question that hits first and lingers longest. Why me? Why now? Why this? Most people don’t even try to answer such questions. How could they? That’s what makes the words of James, the half-brother of Jesus, so unexpected.…
GodHealingPersonal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 3748Bill Perkins
You Were Made for This
God designed you for commitment just as surely as an engineer designs a ship for the open seas and a plane for the sky. A man or woman lacking commitment lives like a clipper ship tethered to a dock or a jet tied down in a hanger. All…
GodPersonal Growth - Post 3740Bill Perkins
Do This To Make Good Decisions
Values aren't practices. A practice is an activity or action. A practice that works in one situation may not work in another. Why? because practices apply to specific situations. Since my second son, David, loved hanging out with…
LeadershipPersonal Growth - Post 3729Bill Perkins
One Thought Will Heal Your Mind
I used to ruminate on negative thoughts for days, weeks, or longer--like years or decades. Over time they shaped my identity. Or, part of it. And then one night . . . Winter in Oregon I was thinking about winters in Oregon. Since I…
FamilyHealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 3725Bill Perkins
Jesus Gave One Commandment Ten Times?
Confused and afraid, the disciples left the upper room and stepped onto the narrow Jerusalem street. The frigid air–just like their growing fear–surrounded them, nipping at their faces and cutting through their robes. Holding their…
JesusPersonal GrowthRelationships - Post 3585Bill Perkins
I've Got the Boat. Who's Got the Gas?
Jesus often spoke in riddles. For instance, what did he mean when asked the following two questions intended to free us from worry: "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25). The correct answer…
GodPersonal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 3571Bill Perkins
What Did Jesus Mean? Don’t Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand Is Doing
When you give to the needy, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Jesus exposes the hidden hunger for applause and invites us to give in secret, for the Father’s eyes alone.
JesusLeadershipMarriagePersonal Growth - Post 3464Bill Perkins
The Night My Life Changed
Since I moved to Oregon I’ve enjoyed reminding myself how much I detest the wet, cloudy, miserable winters. Did I say wet? Did I say cloudy? Did I say miserable? I have a special dislike for dark, depressing winters because I grew up…
JesusPersonal GrowthPoliticsSpiritual Warfare - Post 3454Bill Perkins
"Get Behind Me Satan!"
Recall the Lord’s wilderness temptation. After the last test, we’re told, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time ” (Luke 4:13, italics mine). Satan didn’t give up on his plan to bring down Jesus.
GodJesusLife and DeathPersonal Growth - Post 3438Bill Perkins
Did Jesus Cheat?
Imitating Jesus may seem as impossible as following Superman in flight. We might shadow Clark Kent up a flight of stairs, but not off a tall building. Likewise, we might imitate Jesus when he operated from his human nature, but not…
HealingJesusPersonal GrowthPrayer - Post 3391Bill Perkins
Fight For Your True Identity
Much in the world denies your identity in Christ. Hardship fights it. Your history denies it. Skeptics question it. Yet, lies form the basis of these fights, denials, and questions. And you can learn to identify and reject them all.…
Personal GrowthResurrection BiasSpiritual WarfareCollected Essays - Post 3350Bill Perkins
How to See The Unseen
Much in the world denies your identity in Christ. Hardship fights it. Your history denies it. Skeptics question it. Yet, lies form the basis of these fights, denials, and questions. And you can learn to identify and reject them all.…
GodJesusResurrection BiasSpiritual Warfare - Post 3345Bill Perkins
The Suddenly of God
There is a suddenly with God. In a moment An eye will twinkle. The end will arrive. We will be raised. And transformed. Perishable body clothed with the imperishable. Mortal body clothed with immortality. Death swallowed in victory.…
GodJesusPersonal GrowthResurrection Bias - Post 3198Bill Perkins
How Do We Obey THIS Command?
Paul commands us to focus our mind, our thoughts , on Christ in heaven, not on this world, because we died with Christ and are hidden with him in God. Like a page in a book, we are hidden in Christ. We who were once alive to the world…
JesusLife and DeathPersonal GrowthResurrection Bias - Post 3191Bill Perkins
What did Jesus Mean? "The Eye is the Lamp of the Body"
I believe if God “opened our eyes” so we could witness a reality that goes beyond sight, we would see ourselves with Christ in the heavenlies surrounded by a host of angels (Colossians 3:1-3; Isaiah 6:1-3). This reality is as certain…
Personal GrowthResurrection BiasCollected Essays - Post 3185Bill Perkins
The Slowly of God
In life God seldom moves suddenly and often moves slowly. Of course, we desire flashes of insight which carry us forward quickly. But we must apply those insights and that can take years. That is the slowness of God. How we live with…
GodLife and DeathPersonal Growth - Post 3169Bill Perkins
The DEATH PARADIGM
The Death Paradigm— the dark lens that hides truth and shades all we see Prior to the Lord’s resurrection, death ruled supreme. Death conquered everyone: young, old, rich, poor, strong, weak, kings, commoners, individuals and nations.…
GodHealingJesusLife and Death - Post 3162Bill Perkins
The Power of a Spiritual Bias
A bias is a radar that detects friendlies and ignores enemies. The disciples had a biblical bias that formed the lens through which they interpreted all Jesus said and did. When his words and actions supported their bias, they…
GodHonestyJesusPersonal Growth - Post 3098Bill Perkins
My Cow's Liver Bias
I can’t stand the taste of cow’s liver. While a freshman at the University of Texas my anti-liver bias was tested. At the time I worked as a houseparent for 12-year old boys at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin. Another student…
Personal GrowthResurrection BiasSpiritual WarfareCollected Essays - Post 3074Bill Perkins
Changed Focus = Changed Feelings
One dreary winter night I was obsessing over a negative thought . . . a thought so common I thought it part of my identity. You see, I used to obsess over how much I detested the wet, miserable, cloudy, Oregon winters. Did I say wet?…
JesusPersonal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 3060Bill Perkins
Proof Jesus Was Right
Sometimes people get upset when they realize Jesus taught he is the only way to God. They insist such a narrow and exclusive message must be wrong. Of course, their conclusion is based on the assumption that anything that’s narrow must…
JesusProphecyTough Questions - Post 3049Bill Perkins
Overcoming Fear
It fascinates me that we tend to not only hide our fears from each other, but from God. We talk to him as though he’s impressed with the mask we wear. Jesus would have nothing to do with such hiding. In Gethsemane he called out to God…
GodHonestyLife and DeathPersonal Growth - Post 2991Bill Perkins
Ryan Is A One-Percenter
Ninety-nine percent of all patients on the neurogical floor at Eden Medical Center leave dead or disabled. One percent leave alive and able. Ryan is a one-percenter. The cerebral angiogram showed he had suffered a small brain bleed…
FamilyGodHealingLife and Death - Post 2943Bill Perkins
Between Childhood and Adulthood Something's Lost
Between childhood and adulthood, something happens, and it’s more than getting taller and wiser. At some point the world crushes our childhood capacity to dream we could make a difference in the world. Age brings a proper understanding…
GodJesusLeadershipPersonal Growth - Post 2934Bill Perkins
When We Push Away God
How does God deal with us when we choose to live as though he doesn’t exist? It might surprise you to discover God simply turns us over to our base appetites (Romans 1:24-32). Maybe that doesn’t sound so bad. But is it? An episode of…
Personal GrowthPornographySinSpiritual Warfare - Post 2928Bill Perkins
A Thought for Dark Days
One winter night almost eight years ago a negative thought grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. I remember the experience because what happened next changed my life. At the time I was thinking about the weather in Oregon. Since I…
HealingPersonal GrowthStrongholdsCollected Essays - Post 2874Bill Perkins
Overcome Bias With Truth
I can’t stand the taste of cow’s liver. While a freshman at the University of Texas my anti-liver bias was tested. At the time I worked as a houseparent for 12-year old boys at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin. Another student…
HealingJesusLife and DeathPersonal Growth - Post 2298Bill Perkins
Can Jesus Resurrect Your Dreams
Between childhood and adulthood the world, at some point, crushes our childhood capacity to dream we can make a difference. When I was ten I realized I wasn't a good enough baseball player to make it in the big league - this is an…
GodHealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 2723Bill Perkins
How Is This Possible?
I've now read through the Gospels 84 months in a row. I mention that so you'll realize how easy it is to repeatedly hear or see something without hearing or seeing it. Last week I noticed something I had missed in the previous 83 readings.
HealingJesusPersonal GrowthHoly Spirit - Post 2712Bill Perkins
Are You a Lie Detector?
Every thought is linked to an emotion. Every emotion to a thought. That's why you'll suffer if you believe and repeat lies about yourself. Lies like: "I'm no good." "I'm a failure." "I'm too weak to overcome." "Nobody loves me." "I…
HealingHonestyPersonal GrowthSin - Post 2681Bill Perkins
A New Year's Challenge
As we enter a new year I’m reminded of a short poem by Gloria Pitzer that expresses a problem we all have. She wrote: “Procrastination is my sin. It brings me naught but sorrow. I know that I should stop it. In fact, I will . . . tomorrow.
JesusPersonal GrowthSpiritual WarfareHoly Spirit - Post 2616Bill Perkins
The Birth of a Stronghold
Every spiritual stronghold is built on a lie. And by stronghold I'm referring to a place in the heart where lies reside and generate control over an area of our life. With that in mind, the key to destroying a stronghold is to expose…
Personal GrowthSinSpiritual Warfare - Post 2610Bill Perkins
The Mystery of Divine Healing
I have no idea over the course of my life how many people I’ve asked God to heal. It has to be a lot though. Through the years I always gratefully accepted invitations to pray for the sick. I prayed with sincerity and I believe my…
HealingCollected EssaysPrayer - Post 2607Bill Perkins
When is it wrong to meet a legitimate need?
The Lord’s first temptation was straightforward: “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3, niv). Satan’s question implied Jesus might not be the Son of God. It prodded him to prove his identity and…
GodPersonal GrowthRelationshipsSin - Post 2598Bill Perkins
Find an Isolated Place
Several years ago I found an isolated place where I could sit quietly and listen for God's voice. A place where I could bask in the wonder of his creation and pray. Cooks Butte Park, a wilderness park on the summit of a hill where we…
GodHealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 2588Bill Perkins
The Private Life of Jesus
I have a reoccurring dream in which I’m running as hard as I can. Sometimes I’m running barefoot across an open field of green grass in the country. Or, on an asphalt street through a crowded neighborhood. Often I’m playing football…
GodJesusPersonal GrowthPrayer - Post 2570Bill Perkins
Jesus drew a picture of the invisible
Jesus took an invisible-abstract idea and drew a picture of the intersection of a branch and grapevine. "I'm the vine and you're the branches. Stay connected to me and you'll produce barrels of grapes" (John 15:1-5--paraphrase). But…
GodJesusPersonal GrowthSpiritual Warfare - Post 2561Bill Perkins
One word Jesus used ten times
All of the resources available to Jesus are there for us. The questions is, how do we follow his example and draw on such wisdom and strength. The night before his crucifixion, after leaving the upper room, and leading his disciples…
GodJesusPersonal GrowthSpiritual Warfare - Post 2550Bill Perkins
The day I met the Jesus of power
Throughout my four years at Dallas Theological Seminary--four years of intense biblical study and spiritual growth--I learned that I was to follow Jesus in his teaching and discipleship methods, but not in his supernatural ministry.…
GodHealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 2545Bill Perkins
The Power of Spiritual Expectation
What you expect from Jesus will determine what you receive. When Jesus visited Nazareth, his hometown, his childhood friends and neighbors were initially impressed by his words (Mark 6:2). But then they recognized him. “Isn’t this the…
GodHealingJesusPersonal Growth - Post 2536Bill Perkins
Fear Driven Questions
One day you’ll face an impossible challenge. The opposition will be strong, entrenched and organized. Moses felt that way when God appeared in the burning bush and said, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites…
LeadershipPersonal GrowthSpiritual WarfareTough Questions - Post 2520Bill Perkins
When You're Outnumbered
I used to ask God to show me himself. He never did. I can’t help but think my faith would be stronger if an army of angels appeared to me as they did to Elisha’s servant. If you recall the story, you know it illustrates God’s existence…
GodPersonal GrowthSpiritual WarfareHoly Spirit - Post 2506Bill Perkins
The Healing Power of Tears
Many men feel uncomfortable crying. Some men can't cry. They think tears are a sign of emotional weakness. Yet in John 11:35 we read that at the tomb of Lazarus, "Jesus wept." It’s the shortest verse in the bible, just two words, yet…
HealingJesusPersonal GrowthRelationships - Post 2478Bill Perkins
Are you successful in God's eyes?
A paradigm defines the way we view something. For instance, if a man walks around looking at life through binoculars, he'll view everything as big and close. A paradigm shift occurs when he puts down the binoculars--suddenly the world…
GodLife and DeathPersonal Growth - Post 2411Bill Perkins
The day I learned my son had cancer
In each instance when Jesus prayed alone, he faced a different kind of need that would require the wisdom and strength of his Father. I’m convinced that explains why Jesus not only prayed alone, but uttered short prayers throughout the day.
FamilyGodJesusLife and Death - Post 2381Bill Perkins
Where To Find Courage
Courage is the ability to face difficulty, danger, or pain without crippling fear. And because life presents us with difficulty, danger and pain we all have opportunities to demonstrate courage. Like when we face the prospect of failing…
GodJesusLeadershipPersonal Growth - Post 2355Bill Perkins
Babe Caught Me Unprepared
Texas beaches along the Gulf of Mexico stretch far and flat. Long and lonely they offer no resistance to a hurricane's windy blast or tidal surge. Realizing this, builders perch homes on stilts so the wind and waves will pass under them.
JesusPersonal Growth - Post 2344Bill Perkins
Can you really do what Jesus did?
It’s understandable to think we could no more emulate Jesus than Superman. We might shadow Clark Kent up a flight of stairs, but we’re not going to follow the Man of Steel off a tall building. Likewise, most of us figure we could…
GodJesusPersonal GrowthHoly Spirit - Post 2311Bill Perkins
The Hypocrite
Hypocrisy was a big deal to Jesus. I mean in a bad way. Toward the end of his ministry he said this: “Woe to you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13). “Woe to you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites” (Matthew 23:14).…
HonestyPersonal GrowthPornographyRelationships - Post 2301Bill Perkins
Reviving Crushed Dreams
Between childhood and adulthood something harmful happens. The world, at some point, crushes our childhood capacity to dream we can make a difference in the world. When I turned ten I realized I would never be a big-league baseball…
Personal GrowthCollected Essays - Post 2282Bill Perkins
The first lie you believed and how it messed you up
The first lie is the most important lie. Like the first dandelion seed blown into a yard. Or, the first domino to fall in a row. Or, the first shot fired in a war. The first lie is the most important because it leads to other, bigger lies.
HonestySpiritual Warfare - Post 2268Bill Perkins
When you can't provide
“You give them something to eat," Jesus said (Matthew 14:16). The question took the disciples by surprise. The Lord has just asked them where they could get bread to feed 5,000 men, plus women and children. Where indeed? The disciples…
- Post 2255Bill Perkins
God's Power in You
Jesus’ words and deeds on the night of the Last Supper were focused on helping the disciples grasp a truth as revolutionary as the first use of an incandescent light. “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are…
Holy SpiritCollected EssaysHoly Spirit - Post 2248Bill Perkins
A word Jesus used 10 times in 3 verses
Confused and afraid the disciples left the upper room and stepped onto the narrow Jerusalem street. They felt the frigid air nip at their faces and cut through their robes. Holding their fluttering torches high they followed Jesus out…
- Post 2168Bill Perkins
When you lack the needed faith
We all face situations where a gap exists between the faith we have and the faith needed to release the power of God into a situation. Like the dad who begged the Lord’s disciples to evict a demon from his son. The evil spirit would…
Collected Essays - Post 2116Bill Perkins
Jesus' six reasons to give thanks
I got the list from Jesus, really. One day the Lord told his followers why they should trust in God and not worry (Matthew 6:26-33). I realize Thanksgiving isn't a season of worry but gratitude. But I also know in order to give thanks…
- Post 2093Bill Perkins
When my dad died
I remember when my dad died. I stood beside his bed, my hands on his chest, as he quietly exhaled. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. And life moved on. A sand castle on the beach. For hours the castle stands tall, and then…
- Post 2066Bill Perkins
One way we're alike
In one way we're alike. We want our life to matter. And sometimes we wonder if it does, or ever will. You may go for weeks, months, or even years without giving it much thought. And then you run into an old high school or college…
- Post 2023Bill Perkins
Seeing the Invisible God
Astrophysicist and author, Dr. Hugh Ross, encourages us to imagine that the two-dimensional image on a television monitor consists of a living two-dimensional world. If you placed your fingertip on the screen, what would the people in…
- Post 2019Bill Perkins
Spiritual victory is a line not a dot
Spiritual victory is a line, not a dot. By that I mean it's not a single attitude or action; it's a series of attitudes and actions which, over time, define who we are. If we drew it on a piece of paper, it would appear as a wavy line…
- Post 1947Thomas Wells
Can You Meet God Outside the Bible?
My introduction to Christianity began with my entry into the world. My parents placed their warm hands on my soft head and prayed God’s blessing over me. From that moment forward, faith saturated my life. Every Sunday…
- Post 1844Bill Perkins
The Christmas dreamer nobody knows
I find it interesting that so little is said about Joseph in the Gospel narrative. And yet, without his immediate obedience to God, Jesus may have been killed in his childhood. Here’s what the Gospel writers tell us about Joseph…
- Post 1773Thomas Wells
Don't Just Talk About Faith—Live It
One summer while in high school, I attended a two-week conference in the mountains of Colorado. For ten hours a day, we listened to lecture after lecture about topics relating to our faith.…
- Post 1491Bill Perkins
Try This For One Year
I’m a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I realize most resolutions are made only to be broken. You could prove the point by visiting any gym anywhere in the world during the first week of January. And then visit that gym a month later. I…
- Post 1485Bill Perkins
The Untold Christmas Story
There’s a part of the Christmas story that seldom gets told. It involves someone overshadowed by Mary and Jesus and the shepherds and the star and the stable and the manger and the angels and the wise men. When referred to, his name is…
- Post 1343Thomas Wells
Believing in the Face of Uncertainty
I’ve never liked uncertainty. When there’s relational instability, I’ll do almost anything to resolve it. When I’m confused about my future, I’ll obsess until I’ve clarified it. When…
- Post 1188Bill Perkins
I'm Tired of Being Bullied
I, for one, am tired of being pushed around. I’m also tired of watching other men passively fade into the background of the wallpaper hanging in Satan’s office. If we’re going to fulfill our God-given purpose as men, it’s imperative…
- Post 1144Bill Perkins
I Had a Powerful Spiritual Experience
Seldom had I hoped more for sunny weather. If not sunny, at least dry. The idea of 69 people carrying life-size crosses from the east side of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, across the Steel Bridge and then south for 1.5…
Jesus - Post 1070Bill Perkins
Do You Long For a Second Chance?
Anybody who ever failed a test longed for a second chance . . . one more night to study . . . one more chance to make the grade. Those who have suffered the agony of a failed romance or marriage look back at hurtful things they said…
GodPersonal Growth - Post 1061Bill Perkins
The Myth of the Greener Grass
All of us periodically suffer from the myth of the greener grass. Haven't there been times in your life when you thought things looked better on the other side of the fence? In your drive to succeed, haven't you dreamed of a field with…
Jesus - Post 1009Bill Perkins
Can the Bible Be Trusted?
Reuters--Jumana Elheloueh Okay, so a few camels have caused some archaeologists to declare the Bible unreliable. For another look at the camel problem check out the…
- Post 868Bill Perkins
Strong Faith Is No Blind Leap
As followers of Christ we've been called to a life of faith. When the biblical writers spoke of faith they weren't talking about positive thinking. Nor did they regard faith as some sort of hunch that's followed. It's not a feeling of…
- Post 643Bill Perkins
Did Jesus Ever Claim to Be God?
Many believe that Christianity is a broad and accepting religion that would eliminate no one who sincerely seeks God. While they believe all religions have some technical distinctions, they believe all religions are basically the same.…
GodJesusLife and DeathTough Questions - Post 640Bill Perkins
Why I Believe Jesus is God
Sometimes people get upset when they realize that Jesus taught that he is the only way to God. They insist that such a narrow and exclusive message must be wrong. Of course, their conclusion is based on the assumption that anything…
GodJesusTough Questions - Post 631Bill Perkins
One Change That Will Change Your Life
Last week a truck driver had a bad experience. Not as bad as it could have been since he walked away. Seems his rig got stuck on some train tracks. That's when a fast-moving, fully loaded train hit the pipe-toting trailer. Pipes flew…
FamilyGodJesusMarriage - Post 628Bill Perkins
I Can't Stand Hypocrisy!
I can't stand hypocrisy. Neither could Jesus. The problem is, if I'm not open to correction, I could become a hypocrite. It's a painful truth that if we're not open to correction we run the risk of becoming inauthentic. The religious…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 625Bill Perkins
What Dimension Does God Live In?
Every once in a while I run across an insight so amazing it changes the way I view things. I first heard this one from Astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross. He suggests we imagine the two-dimensional image on a television screen actually…
GodJesus - Post 617Bill Perkins
Take the Tug-of-War Challenge
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
GodJesusPersonal GrowthSpiritual Warfare - Post 581Bill Perkins
How to Respond When You Plans are Delayed
Immediate gratification is a driving force in our lives. We expect pain to go away fast--that's what aspirin are for. We expect immediate success. Of course, such expectations are in keeping with what we see on TV--men get sex whenever…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 576Bill Perkins
Why Some Mice Swim Longer
Nobody, and I mean nobody, makes it through life without encountering discouragement. And how we handle discouragement will dictate not only our emotional and mental health, but our ability to bring a vision into reality. So how do we…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 513Bill Perkins
Would You Have Doubted Jesus?
If I had been with the disciples in Gethsemane the night before Jesus was crucified, and been aware he would die the next day, I would have struggled with some big time doubts. After all, if just the thought of the crucifixion caused…
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 509Bill Perkins
The Power of Delayed Gratification
We're taught to travel fast and light. On the freeway we drive in the fast lane. If we want something we're told to, "Go for it!" Or, "Just do it!" Immediate gratification is a driving force in our lives. We expect pain to go away fast.
GodJesusPersonal Growth - Post 423Bill Perkins
Getting Past Fear and Doubt to Faith
How would you respond if the miraculous invaded your life? That theoretical question became a reality for Zechariah--the father of John the Baptist. One day while he was carrying out his job as a priest, an angel of the Lord suddenly…
GodPersonal Growth - Post 402Bill Perkins
How to Transcend Failure
I've got an impressive resume of failure. Really. It's embarrassing to admit, but it's true. At one time or another I've failed in every area of my life. Seriously. I've broken things I hoped to fix, dropped things I hoped to carry…
JesusPersonal Growth - Post 393Bill Perkins
Worry Buster
I've got a close friend who is a chronic worrier. I asked him once if he ever noticed that most of the things he worries about never happen. He smiled and said, "Yeah, I noticed. Just goes to prove worrying works." The truth is…
JesusPersonal Growth - Post 3471Bill Perkins
Read This For Hope
Discouragement visits everyone. And how we handle it determines our emotional and mental health. So how do we get past discouragement? When Jesus announced his impending death to his disciples, he no doubt saw the lifeless look in…
JesusPersonal GrowthCollected Essays
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Quiet. No rush. Just walking a few pages with Jesus.