All Blog Posts (50)

I have been journeying with John in his engagement in fulfilling the SOIL commitment. This led me to look back at the site and notice that it has been inactive for quite some time. I assume we have all been engaged in the current calling God has placed before each one of us. For the past four years Linda and I have been engaged in starting a shelter for runaway/homeless youth in crisis: https://www.yeshelter.org/

with a couple of forays to Kenya…

Saying yes when the Lord calls is the first and most important response we need to learn as we walk the Jesus road. When Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down and welcome him to be a guest in his house, Zach didn't hesitate, he came down and from that moment everything changed (Lk 19). When Jesus' Spirit…

"Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn, and all the people proclaimed, "Long live King Solomon!"

All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth split open from the sound." 1 Kings 1:39-40

  I try to imagine the…

Jesus promised that it was to our advantage that he return to his father because by going away he would send us the Spirit, the Helper. Jesus said, "When he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement." (John 16:8)

My question this morning in light of all the heartache our world faces because of terror, hatred, injustice,…

God the Father sent His only Son Jesus to die on a cross.

Why? To show how much He loved us.

He loved us so much that it was worth the death of His Son. While we cannot comprehend this truth fully, I think it's worth dwelling on. Because again, if we forget that God loved us so much in the beginning (while we were yet sinners), we lose that edge of gradtitude…

Recently a prayer warrior of a church I attend named Reda came back from a prayer conference where she stated “The Holy Spirit told me that if my prayers aren’t scaring me they sure aren’t going to scare the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy”. It made me think. Each night I prayer with my six year old; thanks to Jesus for all He has given us that day and for God to help each of the people in our lives who bless us and who need blessings. But I wonder, is that a prayer that would scare…

I was talking with a coworker about Jesus. Stop right there. It was so simple to just talk about Jesus. Not easy, but simple. I find it easier to get bogged down in philosophical or religious discussion, instead of what really is the crux: Jesus. And Gino Geraci is fond of saying, "If  you're wrong about Jesus, it doesn't matter what you're right about." There's a powerful truth and principle there for our apologetics and relationships. Again,…

Hi SOIL. It has been a long time since I have posted an article. Mostly because 2014 was insanely full. It was a highly productive year, and also a very costly year for many reasons.  I am sure you are like me and take time to reflect on the passing year as you face a new one. This is a holy and helpful exorcize because it is humbling and sobering and also gives room for…

Are you plugged into the right outlet?

  I work in a hospital. We have two types of outlets in the walls. They are differentiated by their color; one is red, the other white. The red outlet is so colored because appliances plugged into them stay on even when the electricity goes out. There are back up generators in the hospital that provide power to those appliances plugged into the red outlets. So when a massive storm blows the electricity in the…

Luke 12: ¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’  ¹⁸ “Then…

Sitting in my hotel room in the early hours of the morning here in Chiang Mai, I was ministered to the core of my being by these words written by Eberhard Arnold, founder of the  Bruderhof Community, in an article called Das Gluck, published in 1921. With several different emotions and conflicting struggles in my heart and mind, this is exactly what I needed to…

I found the theme again this morning in Isaiah 2:3 "And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths."

Years ago I memorized Ps. 86:11 after hearing a devotional by Gary Casady - "Teach me thy way, O Lord, I will walk in Thy…

A few months ago I was complaining to God about something I felt I needed but didn't have. (Not proud of it, but honestly, that’s what was happening). No sooner had the words spilled from my mouth then Ephesians 1:3 came to my mind. I have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. No room for grumbling, there!! I decided to commit that…

I've recently written a couple of blog posts about fruitfulness in our lives and I thought the other day that it would be good also to share them here. We are commanded to bear fruit and encouraged that it is the Lord's will in our lives. I've found of late that I've needed to hold onto these truths in the face of slow visible fruit in my life and ministry. I mainly write…

Nate,

This is such a great reminder to keep it simple, persevere and stay focused, expressed so very well.  Keep climbing, keep your eyes on Christ and keep listening to the still small voice of His Spirit.  My son, Luke, who too loves to climb, said to me once that when he was on the mountain, having used up all that God had made him to be in that moment, that he was renewed and restored to come back down and face the challenges of being light in a dark world.  May we each go forth…

It was only 3 pm, the sun was shining, reflecting off the boulder strewn snow all around us and bouncing off the impressive north face of Long's Peak. It was early March, the mountain still gripped in winter at 14,000 feet. My brother and I had summitted around noon, starting from our campsite at 3 am. The ascent and descent had taken 12 hours, and yet we felt optimistically…

This week I have been meditating on Luke 13. A chapter full of hot encounters and bold teachings of Jesus. All pointing to the new reality of His Kingdom come upon the earth and old paradigms and bondages broken!  The stakes are high and there is the promise of surprise.

Jesus continues to confront the false teachings, erroneous beliefs, and oppression brought on by…

I really loved this artical on the Gospel Coalition blog, reminding us of God transforms our vocations and gives them purpose. 

Be blessed.…

I gave Jesus the keys of my life one day. I said take control I’ll follow You wherever You’ll lead me.

Have you ever prayed dangerous prayers? Did you know prayer works? I had an idea, but to what extend?

Did you ever think that when you gave it all up to Him, He would take you places you’d never dream off? Had you imagined that some time it would be hard and heart breaking? That it would mean giving everything you have everything you are? Not really. I had no clue.…