Blog Archives
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Bible-264x168.jpg)
Five Steps to Understanding the Bible
At one point in my life, I wanted to be an archeologist. I thought it would be amazing to dig […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/170404-F-ZZ999-001-264x168.jpg)
Where We Are, Where We Should Be
(Originally published March 2016) I haven’t weighed in much on the current political environment. Don’t get me wrong I believe this […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Reflecttheimage-264x168.jpg)
Reflecting Our Owners’ Character
In an article in the New Yorkermagazine, author Malcolm Gladwell writes that vicious dogs are often not inherently vicious, but are […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LivestreamTech-264x168.jpg)
Technology in Ministry: Balance is the Key
When I was a kid, I was not motivated to learn how to ride a bike. It just wasn’t something […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LivingWhenYouFeel-264x168.jpg)
Living When You Feel Like Dying
It was one year ago today that my baby girl stepped out of this world and into eternity. “For to […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Relationshipfocused-264x168.jpg)
The Relationship-Focused Church
Church planting is relational because the gospel is relational. When Jesus commissioned the disciples to “go and make disciples,” it […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PurposeInPain3-264x168.jpg)
Purpose in Pain
Divorce. It’s an ugly word, isn’t it? And yet in American society, it has become the norm. In fact, the […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Theif-264x168.jpg)
Doubts Come Like a Thief in the Night
In 1972 the rapture movie A Thief in the Night was released, but I didn’t see it in a theater. I saw […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PurposeofLife-264x168.jpg)
What is the Purpose of Life?
The Bible Confirms Our Struggle The author of Ecclesiastes says that life is “meaningless” almost forty times over the twelve […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Daniel-264x168.jpg)
What Daniel Says to Our Time
Is it possible to have a thriving relationship with God even in the middle of a culture gone crazy? Absolutely! And […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GodInABox2-264x168.jpg)
Don’t Put God in a Box
On March 3, 2003 (3/3/3), my cousin Kevin and his wife Beth became parents for the first time when their […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Overcomer-264x168.jpg)
Movie Review: Overcomer
Overcomer is a feel-good, faith-based movie that challenges you to think about your true identity. In the aptly named Christian […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/forgiveness-264x168.jpg)
Forgiving Like God Does
Have you ever watched a reality TV show where they are all trying to live together in a house or […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/KingCrossUnity-264x168.jpg)
Dr. King, the Cross and Unity
by Brandon Cox Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been an inspiration to me for a number of years because […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SatansFavoriteTactics-264x168.jpg)
Satan’s Four Favorite Tactics
Satan has been sowing seeds of deceit in my family. This is not surprising or unique because Satan is a […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/adult-airport-alone-362948-264x168.jpg)
God’s Answer to the Problem of Loneliness
In Genesis chapter one, the Bible describes the creation of the world. As God paused to contemplate His work at […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/iStock-157196704-264x168.jpg)
Giving God Control
The day my oldest daughter gave birth is a day forever imprinted in my memory. Since he was the first […]
![Where is God in the hard times](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/daniel-tausis-loeqHoa1uWY-unsplash-264x168.jpg)
A Solitary Firefighter
Every summer, I enjoy my precious bit of free time by reading a few books merely for enjoyment or my […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Not-Reading-The-Bible-264x168.jpg)
Our 3 Excuses for Not Reading the Bible
I make excuses for not reading the Bible every day. And this is coming from a pastor. A formally-trained-in-biblical-theology pastor. […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Highschool-264x168.jpg)
High School: How to Survive and Thrive
Seriously, high school is tough. If it’s not the AP classes and the pressure for more college credits, it’s the […]
![](https://dvniv9jzvns5s.cloudfront.net/images/no-image/video-thumb/list.jpg)
Whose Truth is True?
Truth. It’s a subject that has evolved and changed. A topic that has been stretched, questioned and misused over time. Where […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WeedingtheGarden-264x168.jpg)
Tending the Gardens of Our Lives
It’s too nice of a day to stay indoors! The flowers that the kids and I planted are doing GREAT, […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/6waystoprepare-264x168.jpg)
Six Ways to Prepare for Worship
Last Sunday was an incredible day of worship at our church! The music, fellowship, serving, and community that took place […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Comparisonitis-264x168.jpg)
Comparison-itis and Christ
by Joyce Parker When I get in a room of other women that I don’t know very well, I’m not immediately uncomfortable. […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BurstYourBubble-264x168.jpg)
Go Ahead: Burst Your Bubble
By Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Our family was living in Romania in 2000 and we had […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BOS-boston-public-library-des-manuscrits-au-milieu-des-buildings-2_1-1024x512-264x168.jpg)
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/0014_CornellFall2014-264x168.jpg)
Ten Ways to Survive & Thrive in College
by Yalanda Merrell Thinking back to my college years, I’m reminded of . . . long nights staying up late […]
![](https://dvniv9jzvns5s.cloudfront.net/images/no-image/video-thumb/list.jpg)
Hungry & You Fed Me
by Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Lately, whenever I go into a gas station someone is always […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/PrayerandPraise-264x168.jpg)
Three Reasons Your Prayers Should Always Include Praise
My wife and I are old school. We try really hard to teach our three daughters their manners. We believe […]
![10 Ways to Pray for Your Child’s Teacher](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Teacherandstudents-264x168.jpg)
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GreatestWeddingStory-264x168.jpg)
Greatest Wedding Story Ever Told
We should be making ourselves ready to be found without spot or blemish for our perfect groom, Jesus Christ.
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Mountains-and-Valleys2-264x168.jpg)
God of the Mountains and Valleys
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Witness1-264x168.jpg)
Sharing Your Faith
Fear of rejection is the number one reason for neglecting to bring up spiritual topics in conversations.
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/alexander-dummer-Em8I8Z_DwA4-unsplash-264x168.jpg)
Three Reasons to Have Patience
1 – Because love is patient “Love is patient,” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Anyone else think “ouch” Yeah, my hand would […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/arid-climate-change-clouds-60013-264x168.jpg)
My Spiritual Journey
A SEASON OF GROWTH Time moves quickly from us, never returning. It’s our most valuable, non-replenishable asset. We can make […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_1340-264x168.jpeg)
From Your Big Sister
Dear baby, This is Melody, writing to you the night before you are born into this world. There are a […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/amaury-salas-IhXrWDckZOQ-unsplash-264x168.jpg)
But It’s Not My Fault
It’s obvious to me in the last sixty years there’s been a dramatic decline in the acceptance of personal responsibility […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/adult-blur-businessman-631164-264x168.jpg)
Part Two: Free From Pornography For Good
Pornography is a deadly mistress. She stands poised with promises, willing and ready at a moment’s notice. She strikes unexpectedly, […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/paul-hanaoka-HbyYFFokvm0-unsplash-264x168.jpg)
Part One: The Prominence of Pornography
Pornography addiction is most assuredly an androgynous affair, but for men in particular, the stimulus from pornography activates parts of […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Image-7-16-19-at-9.30-AM-264x168.jpg)
Discipleship Part One: How Did Jesus Do It?
It wasn’t until after my first year of college that I was truly saved. You’re probably thinking, what does that […]
![](https://dvniv9jzvns5s.cloudfront.net/images/no-image/video-thumb/list.jpg)
What it Means to Have a Christian Attitude
The following is adapted from a sermon by Jeff Swart. Philippians 4:8 may be the most important verse in the […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cell-tower-cellphone-masts-clouds-270286-264x168.jpg)
Static? Move Closer to the Tower
I hate static. Not like the kind that makes your clothes cling to you. I’m talking about static on the […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/africa-beach-dawn-2327413-264x168.jpg)
How to Control Your FOMO Once and for All
FOMO (the “fear of missing out”) is a real thing, and it’s more intense than ever. We’re afraid we’ll miss […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Image-6-24-19-at-11.10-AM-264x168.jpg)
Four Practical Lessons from Job’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Have you ever had a day that goes something like this: You are trying to leave for work and the […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/adult-beautiful-birthday-935789-264x168.jpg)
Your Marriage May Be Falling Apart
t I remember very clearly the day God showed me an important truth about my relationship with him. I’m either actively […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Confused-Gift-Blog-Post-264x168.jpg)
How to be Content in Three Acts (#2 of 3)
Act II: A Gift From God You Don’t Want (Numbers 11:4-20) In Act I we defined covetousness in four parts. Covetousness […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Image-6-23-19-at-6.45-PM-264x168.jpg)
How to be Content in Three Acts (#1 of 3)
First Timothy 6:6-10 says, ”But godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Screen-Shot-2019-05-22-at-11.47.10-AM-264x168.png)
From Worrier to Warrior
My imagination ran wild…What if my friends or the kids got too close to the edge? What would happen then? And how far down was it?
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/boy-children-couple-2253879-264x168.jpg)
Tips From the Must Have Parenting Handbook
Dr. Spock. Neuropsychology. Behavior modification. Brain science. Energy profiling (huh??). With the plethora of books, blogs, and methods on parenting […]
![](https://lwlive-wpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/earth-globe-planet-45208-264x168.jpg)
Complicated Yet So Simple
CGenesis 1:1 says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. We often read the familiarity of […]