I’m a day late and a dollar short. My friend Sara invited me to #Write31Days but I just learned about this challenge today. For the rest of the month of October I am going to try to blog daily just to get in the habit of writing and not being too perfectionistic to post. My…
For a number of reasons I have changed to this website bearing my name. I would like to do more public speaking and writing, so I want to make my blog easier to find. I have been writing for about 4 years under another web address, fruitfulsteps.wordpress.com. If you are interested to read any of…
Until now, I have hesitated to use these words in the media: spiritual formation. Why? Oh…because I hate conflict. It seems the term is on some sort of “watchdog” list that an organization has created to point out erring trends in Christianity. A few people I know keep a close watch on the list, and…
I have written recently of my love for the Scriptures and of growing out of the “baby stage” of following Christ. With that said, I would like to say that the gospel itself, the “good news” about Jesus, is not difficult to understand. In 1 Corinthians 15 we find a quick outline of that gospel: “that…
In my last post I mentioned my love for the Scriptures. That seems to be an unpopular position these days. We live in a time when the authenticity and authority of the Scriptures is in constant question. I think it’s easy for some people to question the Scriptures because we so often see them misunderstood and…
It’s not what you know, but Who you know I’ve done more reading in the last two years than I’ve done in the past 25 years put together. At least it seems that way. I’ve never been an avid reader, never gotten hooked on romance or adventure novels, and always found my relaxation in active things such as hiking…
My last post was about building each other up. That topic and this one tug at my heart. As God’s children, we not only need to build each other up, we need to LIFT each other up. Great leaders don’t rise to the top by stepping on the backs of others. Great leaders are lifted to the top on the shoulders…
When I was a kid we used to drive by a beautiful red barn on our way to the city. I always looked for it because it was tall, stately, and brightly decorated. One set of barn doors was painted with big white diamonds like an argyle sweater. Another sported a large bulls eye. Great…
I have called you by your name and you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 I first felt God calling me into ministry a few years ago. My mom had passed away suddenly, and I had been in shock and dealing with grief. When a person grieves she asks a lot of questions of God, even…
Following is a reflection I wrote for a website a few years ago when I was first hearing a call to ministry. I want to share this journey, which has been all by the grace of God, and all for the glory of God. Like newborn babies, we grow to maturity one milestone at a…