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A Lesson Learned From Billows of Black Smoke

You wouldn’t think something as insignificant as a gear-shift indicator could spell disaster for a car. But it could. I used to own an Oldsmobile Cutlass that worked great except for the gear-shift indicator. When the indicator was on N the

Raise Your Spiritual Expectation for 2023

Will your expectations of what Jesus can do limit or release his power in your life this year? A Hometown Visit When Jesus visited his hometown, Nazareth, his childhood friends and neighbors were initially impressed. But then they recognize

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Sometimes an exhortation works like a chisel that chips off a rough edge. While the process is painful, it may be necessary. That’s why the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to not only “correct” and “encourage” but to “rebuke” as well. Even thoug

Take the Leap . . . Be Spontaneous

Spontaneity is crucial to emotional well being. A spontaneous person responds quickly to what he or she is feeling and to what's happening around him. Some people flee spontaneity. At times they feel like letting go. They want to express th

Be Thankful For This

In my lifetime I remember no other occasion when I questioned the veracity of so many people and organizations. Who can we trust? Politicians? The media? Scientists? Military leaders? Medical professionals? I don’t completely trust any of t

This Danger Lurks Nearby

In a scene from the television show, Animal Planet , a compelling image shows a herd of gazelles grazing in the middle of a meadow. The golden grass is two, maybe three-feet high. The sky is heavy and gray, with hot clouds hanging like old

How the Humble Handle Power

Humility is measured by how we handle losses. Humble people avoid excuses and finger pointing. They accept that even a valiant effort may fail. Humility is also measured by how we handle victory—or potential victory. Humble men and women re

Hard . . . But Not Impossible

As God has forgiven you, so must you forgive others. “But I can’t,” you might say. “You don’t understand what they did to me.” You’re right. I don’t. Ultimately, only your heavenly Father understands because he watched as the Romans torture

Getting Past Spiritual Barriers

Here’s the situation: You want to talk with someone about the Lord, but you’re not sure how. For years I shared Christ in the same way while adapting the illustrations. And then I discovered three spiritual barriers that prevent people from

A Thought: On My Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary

Saturday, my wife Cindy and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Prior to our wedding we dated a year-and-a-half. On our second date, a day after our first date, a day after we first met--although she says we met a year earlier at Arrowhe

Overcoming Your Greatest Fear

Had you sat beside Jesus in Gethsemane, and known what he would face, you might have questioned his resiliency. If the thought of crucifixion affected him so dramatically, would he cower before the Cross? Those closest to him that night rep

To Avoid Comparisons Do This

Compare yourself to someone with more feel small. Compare yourself to someone with less feel big. For awhile. Comparisons are odious. The tiny pebbles and white shells of the Galilean beach crunched under the feet of the two men as they wal

Spontaneous Jesus

Spontaneous: Coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned. Spontaneity is crucial to emotional well being? Why? Because spontaneous people respond to their emo

COMPLETELY RUINED!

Did Jesus teach that people who build their life on the foundation of his teaching would be spiritually impregnable? I've taught that many times. And it makes sense. But as I've been examining these verses more closely I've changed my mind.

God Gave You The Gift of Anger

Where does such a powerful emotion as anger come from? It may surprise you to know it’s a gift from God. In his excellent book, The Other Side of Love, Gary Chapman notes that, while anger is not an essential part of God’s nature—it flows “

Jesus Placed This Above Mission

Confused and afraid, the disciples left the upper room and stepped onto the narrow Jerusalem street. The frigid air—like their growing fear—surrounded them, nipping at their faces and cutting through their robes. Holding their fluttering to

This Makes a Winning Team

Meism says “Me first.” It stands in opposition to weism that says “Team first.” The threat of meism prompted Jesus to remove it from his team. When the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John, asked Jesus if he would grant her sons positio

Who's Playing You?

The great composer Mendelssohn visited a cathedral in Europe that housed the most magnificent organ in the world. The German composer quietly sat in a pew and listened as the cathedral organist prepared for the Sunday mass. When he finished

Need Hope? Read This

Nobody invites discouragement for dinner. But he needs no invitation. He slips past the door with the silence of a cat. Or, he knocks down the door with the rage of a bull. Once inside our head, like a squatter, he refuses to leave. And how

Why did Jesus First Appear to a Woman?

The risen Lord first appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk.16:9, Jn. 20:15-17). He next appeared to: “Joanna and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them” (Mt. 28:9-10). Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t first appear to Peter

How to Choose an Ally

Sometimes the appeal of a bad alliance leads us down the wrong path. Maybe Bonnie and Clyde should have dated someone else. Erick and Lyle Menendez were brothers but should have parted company when they first started talking about eliminati

Is God Approachable?

Many people have gotten the idea that getting to God demands jumping through religious hoops. Such misconceptions are laid to rest in a manger, in a stable, in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Author Philip Yancey once asked, who could be mo

Write a Review for The Jesus Story

If you've read The Jesus Story and liked it, please write a five star review for Amazon.com. There's still time for people to buy one for Christmas and your review might prompt them to make a purchase. I've now read it over 100 times over 1

What if an Angel Appeared to You?

Three scenes in the Christmas story plea for a closer look. In Matthew’s gospel, attention is fixed on: Mary and Jesus The star The shepherds The magi and their gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold. But we should also consider a man viewed

With Jesus in the Boat You're Safe

In 2020 we've seen cities burn, stores looted, cops killed, random shootings, a worldwide pandemic, lockdowns, masks, job losses, political corruption and media disinformation. All of this signals an uncertain and dangerous future. But I wo

The Fallacy of Christian Tithing

I've had the privilege of attending churches across the United States and internationally. Often when the plate is passed attenders are urged to "give their tithes and offerings." The word “tithe” means "a tenth part" and is not synonymous

Control Your Thoughts, Control Your Life

I was eight years old and riding a quarter horse across some land my family owned outside of Roswell, New Mexico. As I rode away from the stables he repeatedly resisted and tried to reverse direction. After we had gone a couple hundred yard

I do it all the time? Do you?

Several years ago I loaned my heavy duty top-of- the-line foosball table to a friend. I had tired of the game and my friend wanted the table, so I let him keep it with the assurance he’d return it when asked. A few years later I felt the ur

Turn Your Back on God and This Happens

How does God deal with us when we choose to live as though he doesn’t exist? It might surprise you that God steps aside and turns us over to our base appetites (Romans 1:24-32). Maybe that doesn’t sound so bad. But is it? An episode of The

What Do You Do When Life Stops?

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!” Immediate gratification often drives our life. We expect pain to vanish fast and success to arrive faster. Suc

Seize the Opportunity

Webster tells us an opportunity is a “favorable juncture of circumstances.” A moment when the elements for progress merge. The English playwright and poet William Shakespeare described such moments: There is a tide in the affairs of men, Wh

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

I learned and believed, and still believe, Jesus was baptized to identify with the ministry of John the Baptist. John came to prepare the nation of Israel for the arrival of their King. Before a king visited roads had to be cleared, smoothe

Withstand the Attack

Jesus said we are sheep before wolves--vulnerable victors. We won't win by dominating. Or protecting self-interest. In the domain of The King, we win when we lose. In Matthew 10:39 Jesus said, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and who

If We Could See This

While reflecting on the subject of a blinding bias, the Holy Spirit drew me to the story of two sisters, Martha and Mary, who sent a message to Jesus informing him their brother, Lazarus, was sick (John 11:3). Like the twelve disciples, and

Generosity Replaces Fear With Faith

I had a Zoom meeting today with three pastors. They're talking with people who are have lost their job, or may lose it soon. People fear they won't be able to pay their bills. While the disciples of Jesus never faced a pandemic, there was a

A Key to Spiritual Growth

Hypocrisy is a sin most of us spot in others without seeing it in ourselves. It’s like bad breath. If somebody else has it you want to keep your distance. But nobody can tell if their own breath is sweet or sour. We’ve all got areas of inco

A Thought for the New Year

As you enter the New Year and New Decade—the roaring twenties—what kind of life do you want to live? Consider the words of John Rohn: Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry

Read This to Your Family on Thanksgiving

Let's thank God for a wonder we 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 wonderfully made; your works are wonderful

Please pray for my son, Ryan

My oldest son, Ryan, suffered a bleeding brain aneurysm Wednesday evening. He's currently in Eden Medical center in Castro Valley, CA. He will undergo a procedure Thursday morning in which a neurosurgeon will run a tiny catheter from his gr

I Rode a Runaway Horse

I was eight years old and riding a quarter horse across some land my family owned outside of Roswell, New Mexico. As I headed the horse away from the stables he repeatedly resisted my lead and tried to reverse direction. After we had gone a

Don't Download This Virus

We've all had it happen. In just a moment we unwittingly open an email or click on a link that downloads a virus onto our computer. Once downloaded it quickly takes over the circuitry and we lose control of the machine. Even worse, it may d

" O Holy Night"

Over the last few days I've been listening to many versions of O Holy Night. As I listen to the words I consider all they represent and find myself drawn to the infant Jesus on that holy night long ago. I hope you'll be able to take a few m

Demons and Healing

Some of the most dramatic healing I've seen occurred after evicting demons. It's stunning to me how many illnesses like headaches, digestive issues, panic, depression and back pain--to name a few--result from afflicting spirits. One despera

How to rebuke like Jesus

Sometimes an exhortation may take the form of a chisel that chips off a rough edge. While the process is painful, it may be necessary. That's why the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to not only "correct" and "encourage" but to "rebuke" as well.

A Different View of Christmas

The Christmas Story we celebrate every year centers around a promised birth, a star, shepherds, magi, a manger and a baby. What most people don't realize is that the story is more than a night in a manger. For instance, did you know Mary, a

Something we seldom say "Thanks" for

Like a fly on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, we often fail to recognize the wonder that surrounds us. This Thanksgiving, join me in thanking God for something we often take for granted. In Psalm 139:14-15 David wrote: “For you created m

The Church Has Been Deceived Part 2

Without repentance, it's impossible to overpower compulsive lust. Can't be done. Nor can we harness explosive rage, bitterness, fear, self-hatred, jealousy, addiction, fear, suicidal thoughts and other controlling sins. We can pray over the

Don't Pray for More Power. Pray for This.

When Paul prayed for the Ephesians he didn’t ask God to give them more power. Instead, he prayed they would comprehend the power available to them. Specifically, he asked God to enable them to understand that they have access to the same po

The lie about forgiveness

Has anyone ever asked if you’ve done something nobody knows about? Or, asked if you’ve had something done to you no-one knows about? It’s not like everyone has a dark secret. At least, not that dark or deeply hidden. But lots of us do. And

How I hope to face hardship

On December 17, 1850, Captain Allen Gardiner and six companions landed at Patagonia on the southern tip of South America. They made that long journey to bring the gospel to a people so primitive that evolutionist Charles Darwin said they ex

Will you join me?

Nothing has strengthened my faith and transformed my life more than reading through the four Gospels every month. When I began, 59 months ago, I followed a much weaker Jesus than I do today. Much of this was due to my theological training w

Something to ponder

Jesus said, “My words are both Spirit and life” (John 6:63). He didn’t say my words point to Spirit and life. Nor did he say, my words teach about Spirit and life. Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and life.” Profound statement. Profound tho

Jesus and Women

Most women have been hurt by a man. According to an Internet survey of almost 250 women across the United States, 60% said they had been hurt by their dad and 83% said they had been hurt by a man other than their dad. The knife dug deep int

Searching for a Simplified Faith

Note: Today's article is by my son, Paul Perkins . It might not come as a surprise to learn that I’m fairly driven. I set goals and relentlessly pursue them until they’re accomplished. It’s how I’ve always been—even as a kid, I took pride i

Test

Test

Jesus' six reasons to be thankful

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). His simple insights give us power over fear and its little brother, worry. Number One: I thank God that sin

Why we hide our true-self

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary a stronghold is, “a protected place where the members of a military group stay and can defend themselves against attack." I would add that it’s also a place from which an army can mount an attack. I

This changed my life

I just finished reading The Jesus Story 58 months in a row. Nothing has transformed my life more than reading the story of Jesus over and over. I've gotten to know him better and experienced his life and power in fresh ways. That's why last

Do this to an enemy

Will you consider a New Year's challenge?

Think about these facts: Without the Gospel accounts

Will you join me?

Nothing has strengthened my faith and transformed my life more than reading through the four Gospels every month. When I began, 59 months ago, I followed a much weaker Jesus than I do today. Much of this was due to my theological training w

What is a Resurrection Bias

"I'm scared."

Jesus Doesn't Care

As Jesus waves crashed over the sides of the boat

How to Live a Life Without Regret

Solomon said, “The day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth" (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Hard to believe a man of wisdom wrote those words. They seem wrong. And yet, upon reflection they make sense. How so? Consider that on the day

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Make no mistake about it, many people fear God and think he's as approachable as King Kong. They recall the story of Moses and the terrified Israelites at Mt. Sinai when God revealed himself with, "thunder and lightning flashes, and a thick

Solve This Riddle

Social Media Auto Publish Toggle panel: Social Media Auto Publish Yoast SEO Toggle panel: Yoast SEO SEO Readability Social Focus keyphrase Help on choosing the perfect focus keyphrase(Opens in a new browser tab) Snippet Preview Url preview:

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Will your expectations of what Jesus can do limit or release his power in your life in 2023? When Jesus visited his hometown, Nazareth, his childhood friends and neighbors were initially impressed. But then they recognized him. “Isn’t this

What Do You Call Someone Who Betrayed You?

A friend created a black tee shirt with five names. All were a light grey except the first one. It was white. Judas Simon James Andrew Thomas All the names were a light grey except Judas,