Since the beginning of time, civilizations have gathered near water because it’s essential to life. Water sustains every part of the body—from cellular processes to temperature regulation—and maintains environmental balance through weather and ecosystems. This is why Scripture portrays the Holy Spirit as water for the believer. Just as water is essential for physical life, […]
Our grandkids visited us this summer and brought a game called Beanboozled. I’d never played it before; if I had, I probably would have politely declined! Here’s how it goes: you spin a spinner that lands on a picture of a jelly bean you have to eat. The problem is—each color jelly bean has two […]
Most of us have a picture in our mind when we think of communion—bread and juice, childhood memories, or Easter traditions. But communion is so much more than tradition! It’s an invitation to remember who Jesus was, realign ourselves with Him, and respond to His love. The word communion carries deep meaning: “Com” means “with” […]
I’ll never forget asking Tamara to marry me—the nerves before I popped the question, and how my heart leaped when she said yes. I was overjoyed! We can all think of moments when joy filled our hearts to overflowing—but they’re just that: moments. For some of us, they’re few and far between. That causes me […]
Growing up, I was the youngest of five siblings—three boys, two girls. My brother Kenny, five years my senior, was an exceptional athlete. I loved him picking me up to play on his team for Wiffle ball, basketball, or football games. We typically won, and I was very aware it wasn’t because of my abilities—it […]
In our church, we often remind people that our community is imperfect because it’s full of imperfect people seeking to learn more about a perfect God. And if someone thinks it’s perfect, the minute they join, they’ll make it imperfect too! The key to experiencing an incredible life full of meaningful relationships isn’t dependent upon […]
In 1962, authorities imprisoned Nelson Mandela for fighting apartheid—a system of institutionalized racial segregation. During his 27 years behind bars, he faced a choice: let bitterness consume him or use the time for transformation. Mandela chose growth. He earned his law degree through correspondence, learned multiple languages, and built relationships that would later prove crucial. […]
When our daughter was planning her wedding, Tamara and I enrolled in ballroom dancing lessons. We assumed we’d be naturals! After all, Tamara was a cheer captain of a 5A school, and I was a college athlete. But we soon realized our success in ballroom dancing didn’t so much depend on our individual strengths but […]
In ancient Rome, crowds filled coliseums to watch gladiators fight brutal battles—many to their death. As these warriors prepared to enter the arena, their loved ones would shout one desperate word: spoudazo—“Give it all you’ve got. Fight to the finish.” These weren’t casual cheers from the sidelines; they were gut-wrenching pleas for survival. Gladiators, on […]
Evangelism can feel intimidating, but for most of us, it’s not a lack of willingness—it’s a lack of understanding. Simply put, evangelism is sharing the Gospel. That’s it! And according to Jesus, it’s not a suggestion—it’s an expectation: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). But how do […]

