Rescued by Jesus. Rebuilt by the Spirit. Responding to God's grace.
Did Joseph ever aspire to rule over Egypt? A pastor once asked me what my five-year plan was. Then, I replied that I had learned (the hard way) not to make my own plans, but to remain open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. “In five years, I’ll be wherever God wants me to be.” That […]
Ever pray for clarity? I have—but maybe we’re not supposed to. In 2005, while I was working in film, video, and graphic design, God called me to serve in full-time ministry instead. A year later, I was on staff at a church. In 2011, when I was a pastor at that church, God called me […]
You ever hesitate—or fail—to pray because you just didn’t believe that God would answer your prayer? I do. More often than I should. He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it […]
When God calls us to something, He might not call us to finish it. <<Previous episode January, 2017. I had just started my new job a month earlier. This role was an incredible answer to prayer: getting paid to write and be on social media all day, all to serve people with disabilities in the name […]
Are our failures part of God’s plan, or does God redeem our failures? << Previous episode October, 2016. I agreed to step down from my pastoral role after God spoke to me through a roundabout: “See the direction everyone else is going.” “Yield.” “Navigate your way through without crashing.” “Know when to exit.” After two […]
<< Previous episode God can use what you already have. Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. (Exod. 4:2 NIV) Moses had a staff. David had a slingshot (1 Sam. 17:40). A little boy had five small barley loaves and two small fish (Jn. 6:9). What […]
<< Previous episode Moving forward often requires us to let go of what we know. December 17, 2012. It had been 14 months since I resigned from my role in order to go to Japan; 5 months since my last scouting trip. We had to raise 80% of our two-year budget before we could leave […]
<< Previous episode I was about to give up the race when a parked car cheered me on. I returned from the summer missions trip– my fourth trip to Japan– with the confidence that we would raise the funds needed to embark on our two-year assignment. We needed 80% of our two-year budget pledged before […]
<< Previous episode Filled with faith or just plain delusional? “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will […]
Yet another post about surrender, trust, and obedience. (Are we sensing a theme here?) << Previous episode Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm. 20:7 NIV) I have this thing about titles and diplomas. I love them. I covet them. But I could […]
What does it mean to serve out of love, not fear? << Previous episode Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (John 21:16 NIV) I’d grown up believing that church staffers were naturally “holy” […]
<< Previous episode When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. (Acts 16:7-8 NIV) April 16, 2006. It was the day of our big premiere. The network marketing team hustled […]
<< Previous episode What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities […]
<< Previous Episode Were these voices from God, my imagination, or something more sinister? The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam. 3:10 NIV) Things were looking up. Soo and I finally became husband and wife, two-and-a-half years […]
<< Previous Episode I was never into church, but there was something different about this one. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV) I tried to embrace my newly-single status and distract myself from the misery, diving back into […]
<< Previous Episode If this relationship truly was from God, He’d have to help us overcome major hurdles. How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:2a NIV) I didn’t call Soo the next day, as I normally would have done. We had been talking […]
<< Previous Episode Even after I turned away from God, He redeemed a painful situation and corrected my course. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:8) Martial arts were a source of pride. I was proud of what I could accomplish through hard work, tenacity, and perseverance. I was finding […]
<< Previous Episode Sometimes, a dream is just a dream. But this one was different. …but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: […]
<< Previous episode Seeking God’s will was the best decision I’d ever made. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36) I gave up on dating when I was twenty-eight years old. Or, I should say, I gave […]
