Blog

Time limits. Writers love them. An endpoint creates urgency, raises the stakes, and increases the tension. Will James Bond diffuse the bomb in time? Will the hero get to the airport before his romantic interest flies out of his life—forever? Will the police find the kidnapped victims before they suffocate in the deranged killer’s sweltering…

North Texas produced a bumper crop of wildflowers this spring. As I traveled from DFW to Wichita Falls, to Waco, and to Austin, my eyes feasted on bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, Mexican hats, buttercups, and blanket flowers. Blues and yellows, reds and oranges, and pinks and purples splashed the spring green of new grass. Jesus pointed…

Grace. Unmerited favor. A gift. The opposite of karma because with karma, it’s about work. What you get depends on what you do. God speaks to what we have earned, “ . . . for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Looking forward to that paycheck? Me neither, but that’s what we’ve got…

Karma. The law of cause and effect. Hinduism and Buddhism claim it determines your destiny. In essence, you determine your destiny. Good choices lead to good things. Bad choices lead to . . . well, good luck with that. Sadly, the church has bought into karma. Does the Bible speak of consequences? Of course, it does…

“Worship the LORD in holy attire.” Psalm 96:9 NASB In Scripture, holy attire meant linen. Priestly garments were made from linen. God knew what He was doing because nothing outperforms linen when it comes to strength, luster, and durability. Stain resistant, linen gets softer with each washing and handles moisture well. Linen also: Filters chemical exposure,…

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 NIV Disciplined. Usually a word that describes me. However, as I get older, I’m fighting the flesh more. The temptation to indulge myself grows stronger and stronger. To…

Altars. For the modern believer, the altar represents a place of surrender, perhaps of petition, intercession, or a step of faith. For biblical characters, the altar meant sacrifice. And sacrifice meant death. Death and bloodshed. When Abraham and Isaac climbed Mount Moriah, it wasn’t for prayer. It wasn’t to rededicate their lives. It was to…

From the 26th floor of the office building, I gazed at the DFW skyline. A patchwork quilt of prairie and urban sprawl covered the ground below. The dusky sky deepened to indigo and the lights of the city switched on like a Lite-Brite board. Neon signs, office buildings with after-hour workers, skyscrapers outlined in yellow highlighting. The…

My children tended to learn one of two ways: by example—or the hard way. God prefers we learn by example. “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” 1 Cor. 10:11 NIV God’s filled Scripture with good and bad examples: Job’s…

One of my children has the gift of sarcasm. It’s all in fun, of course. Not. I have the same skill set, though I keep my comments to myself.  Entertaining such thoughts is damaging. A negative focus comes all too easily and before I know it, I’m stewing. Agitated. My hackles go up and I’m…