Don’t Forget the Bread

God has posted His traffic signs everywhere we look: in the universe, in Scripture, even within our own hearts. Yet we persist in disregarding his directions. Still, God does not give us what we deserve. He has drenched His world in grace. It has no end. It knows no limits. It empowers this life and enables us to live the next. God offers second chances, like a soup kitchen offers meals to everyone who asks.

Witnessing With Those Who’ve Made It

Luke 19:1-10 Let's face it. There are a lot of folks around who have made it big financially. According to Forbes.com, in 2005 there were 691 billionaires on planet Earth, with a collective worth of more than $2 trillion. Just so you'll know: none of them is a member of our church!

How To Recognize A Gospel Message

I Corinthians 1:20-25 Most Thursdays last winter, I went to a classroom and listened to sermons. Does that sound like fun or what? I teach a class on preaching. Each of the class's 24 students had to submit two manuscripted sermons. They had to preach one sermon before the whole class - and me! I enjoy the...

Got Fish?

During the past decade our family has vacationed several times on a small island in northern Lake Michigan.

Gone Fishing!

In John 21:3 we discover that the disciples embarked on a fishing trip. Simon Peter told his partners, "I'm going fishing." The disciples chimed in and said "we're going too!" So the disciples posted their "gone fishing" sign on the upper room door and headed out to the lake. Maybe the...

A Few Words about Watching

Ezekiel 3: 17-22 and Mark 13: 32-37 If you had asked me two weeks ago to define the word tsunami I would have probably given since humorous response, suggesting that it was either an item on the menu of a Japanese restaurant or a new line of automobiles being produced by the Koreans. Today, ho