In the barren wilderness known as the Jordan Rift the Lord Jesus faced three universal temptations designed to undermine him as a man and corrupt his sense of personal mission. It is likely that he dealt with many other temptations while in this physical wasteland, but these three are recorded, and they do indeed carry READ MORE
While visiting with a friend this morning the conversation turned to the too-common reality of a heart grown hard. My friend and I are people desperate to have hearts soft toward God, tender to his purposes and pleasures and presence. As we were reflecting on this hunger for pliability and proximity to the Father, what READ MORE
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my most beloved heroes. A German pastor and professor who gave his life to the cause of opposing Hitler and the Nazi regime, his legacy is vast. On April 6, 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested by the Gestapo, largely due to his efforts to rescue Jewish friends and family and help READ MORE
Prompted by Bethel Church’s sermon series entitled, “Manhood: A Bold Call For Men of Nobility,” my friend Kay Kiefer, an amazing woman who serves on the front lines of helping people make life-affirming choices, sent me this note. Pastor Matthew . . . . thank you for this sermon series. One of the most stark READ MORE
My friend and theologian/pastor Cornelius Olowala, a Nigerian man who for many years was the president of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, a multimillion member evangelical denomination, once offered a striking commentary on America that I have not gotten over. “In Africa,” he said, “our older people are revered while in America they are READ MORE
While reading through the record of Israel’s assorted kings one happens upon a reference to one of Israel’s admired prophets. 2 Kings 13:20-21 offers this concise accounting of a very unusual event: So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And READ MORE
