Choosing Love Today

Have you ever watched a race where one runner spends more time looking at everybody else than paying attention to where they're going? It usually doesn't end well. They stumble. They slow down. They lose focus. That's because it's hard to run your race when you're obsessed with someone else's. I think a lot of us can relate to that. We live in a world where comparison is almost a full-time job. Ev...

Have you ever tried to start a campfire with just one little spark? At first, it doesn't look like much. A tiny flame flickers against a pile of wood. A little breeze comes along and threatens to put it out. If you ignore it, the fire dies. But if you tend it, feed it, and protect it, before long you've got something that provides warmth, light, and comfort to everyone around it. Faith can be a lo...

Have you ever noticed how fear likes to talk? Not out loud, necessarily. But inside your head. Fear says things like, "What if this doesn't work out?" "What if I fail?" "What if people don't understand?" "What if I make the wrong decision?" "What if things get worse instead of better?" And if we're honest, most of us have listened to that voice more than we'd like to admit. Timothy probably unders...

Have you ever noticed how careful we are with things we consider valuable? We lock our doors at night. We protect our bank accounts with passwords. Some people keep important documents in safes or lock boxes. When something matters to us, we take steps to protect it. But here's a question. Do we put the same effort into protecting our faith? In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Paul tells Timothy, "What you hear...

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever looked at someone and thought, "I could never do what they do"? Maybe it's a gifted teacher, a talented musician, a successful business owner, or someone who just seems to have abilities that come naturally. It's easy to look at other people and convince ourselves that God can use them because they're talented, but He can't use us because we're ordinary. Bu...

What does it look like to stay faithful when the world around you keeps pulling in another direction? In 1 & 2 Timothy, Paul writes to a younger man he loves like a son, encouraging him to stand firm, guard what he has been taught, and live out his faith with courage and integrity. These letters speak honestly about leadership, hardship, false teaching, perseverance, and what it means to remai...

Have you ever had somebody say exactly what you needed to hear at exactly the right time? Maybe you were having one of those days when nothing seemed to be going right. You were discouraged, questioning yourself, maybe wondering whether anything you were doing was making a difference. Then somebody came along and said a few simple words that changed the direction of your day. They didn't solve you...

There are some phone calls you never forget. It was Sunday, 1-12-1975, in the early afternoon. My younger brother called to tell me our Dad was involved in a head-on collision coming back from the lake and that he was dead. Maybe you've you've received a call like that. If you have....I'm sorry, because I know it's not easy. You can remember where you were when the phone rang. You remember who was...

There are four little words in the Bible that when they're directed at you, you might get offended, angry or they simply might make you laugh when you hear them. Believe it or not, that's pretty much exactly what Paul tells the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 4:11 - “Mind your own business.” Paul encourages them to make it their ambition to live a quiet life, to mind their own business, and to work with...

Most of us probably wouldn't mind hearing someone say, "You're doing a pretty good job." Whether it's at work, at home, or just trying to be a decent human being, a little encouragement goes a long way. But here's the interesting part: being told you're doing well doesn't necessarily mean there's no room to do better........and Paul understood that. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, he tells the believers,...

You know you can usually tell when somebody genuinely cares about you. They don't always say exactly the right thing. They may not have some brilliant piece of advice. Sometimes they don't say much of anything. But there's something about the way they listen, the way they show up, and the way they treat you that tells you, "This person actually cares." Paul understood that. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7-...

Have you ever noticed that some things are pretty hard to hide? If you've been working outside on a hot day, people can usually tell. If you've been painting the living room, somehow a little paint ends up on you somewhere. And if you've spent the afternoon cutting onions, well, you're probably not fooling anybody. What we've been doing has a way of leaving evidence. Paul noticed something like th...

Same Then, Same Now The world has changed a lot in two thousand years. People haven’t changed nearly as much. The believers in Thessalonica were trying to figure out how to live out their faith in a world that didn’t always understand them, agree with them, or make it easy. Sound familiar? In this opening episode of our journey through Thessalonians, we’ll meet a group of ordinary people discoveri...

Colossians – Episode 7: “Walk Wise”  Let me ask you something. Have you ever gotten halfway through a day and realized you've been running on autopilot? You got up, had your coffee, checked your phone, handled a few responsibilities, and before you knew it, the day was moving faster than you were. Then you stop and wonder, "What have I actually been paying attention to today?" I think we've all ha...

Colossians – Episode 6:    “Set Apart”  Let me ask you something. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to just blend in? Not in a bad way. Just in an everyday way. You get up, drink your coffee, answer your emails, pay your bills, run your errands, watch the news, maybe scroll through your phone a little too long, and before you know it, you're moving through life pretty much like everyone else ar...

Colossians – Episode 5:     “Made New”  Here's something I bet you haven't asked yourself in a while. If ever, when was the last time you let yourself believe that God is actually making you new… right now? Not “someday.” Not “when life settles down.” Not “when I finally get my act together.” But now. I was thinking about this the other day while cleaning out an old drawer in my desk. You know the...

Colossians – Episode 4: “Rooted Deep”  I think I've got a real good question for you today. Actually, it's a 2-part question: and it might surprise you with how quickly it reveals some truth about you: The 1st question is: Do you like storms? And the 2nd question is What are your roots actually planted in right now? Not what you want them planted in… but what they’re really drawing strength from....

Colossians – Episode 3:          “Hope Given”  Today's opening question has to do with hope....and this one might hit closer to home than you might expect or like, but here it is: (and be honest with yourself), When was the last time you felt genuinely hopeful? Not optimistic… not “I think things might get better”… but real, steady, soul-level hope? I was thinking about that the other day while si...

Colossians – Episode 2: “Christ Above”  Hi everyone!  Here's a good question to start your day: What’s the one thought that just seems to have taken over your mind “above” everything else in your life lately? Not what should be above… but what actually is? I was thinking about this the other day while standing in line at the grocery store. You know how your mind wanders when you’re waiting? Mine d...

What does it take to grow strong in Christ in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions? In this first episode of our Colossians series, we explore Paul's encouragement to believers who were facing confusion, competing ideas, and pressure from the culture around them. Just as a tree with deep roots can withstand fierce storms, followers of Jesus grow stronger when their lives are fi...

Have you ever had a moment where you realized you were trusting God… until something happened that made you start trusting your own strength instead? Maybe it was a sudden problem, an unexpected bill, a tough conversation, or one of those “life just punched me in the gut” moments. You go from peaceful to panicked in about three seconds, and suddenly you’re trying to fix everything yourself. We’ve...

Have you ever noticed how serving someone else can change your whole mood? You might start out tired, frustrated, or just not in the right head space, but then you help somebody — maybe you hold a door, carry groceries, check on a neighbor, or even just listen — and suddenly your heart feels lighter. It’s almost like God wired joy straight into the act of serving. That’s exactly what Paul highligh...

Have you ever been in a room where everyone was supposed to be on the same team… but it sure didn’t feel like it? Maybe it was a family gathering, a workplace meeting, or even a church committee where half the people looked like they were preparing for a cage match. You walk in thinking, “We’re all here for the same reason,” and five minutes later you’re wondering if you should’ve worn protective...

As usual, you know I like to start these short messages with a question. So why should today be any different? Here's today's question: have you ever noticed how much easier life gets when people choose humility instead of trying to be “the big dog” in the room? I mean, think about the last time you were around someone who had to be right, had to be in charge, or had to make sure everyone knew how...

Let me start with a question — have you ever had one of those days where everything feels upside down, but then one small thing shifts your perspective and suddenly the whole day looks different? Maybe it’s a sunrise you weren’t expecting, a kind word from someone, or even your dog looking at you like you’re the greatest human who ever lived. Perspective is powerful. It doesn’t change the situatio...