Beard 133

Have you ever woken up from a bad dream to find that life is not nearly as bad as it was in your dream? Occasionally I’ve had a dream where someone I care about was in trouble or my life was turned upside down. But what happens when it’s over?…

It’s easy to deal with sin in the wrong way. When someone is caught in sin how do you naturally like to respond? Do you try to get them to bear the shame of that sin so that they can never outlive it?  Do you make them feel forever inferior…

What is up next for this year of unrest? The CDC and many others have been listing increased stress as a possible result of the pandemic. This is perhaps the most wide-spread contagion so far.  And the symptoms include many things from poor sleep, increased anxiety, and worries of the…

Everyone’s plans changed this year. Whether you wanted it or not, the impact of the COVID-19 virus has hit you. It matters not who is to blame for how much it affected you. Every calamity and every crisis is a reminder that our lives are like a mist. We might…

Once King David had to decide which punishment he would face for his sin. He had taken pride in his army’s strength and needed God’s discipline. The consequences were listed. David was given the options of famine, war, or plague.  Though he dreaded the thought of the oncoming suffering, he…

One morning, not too long ago, my three-year-old twins staggered sleepily out of their bedroom and into the living room. It wasn’t long before “sleep-mode” was replaced with “play-mode” and wooden blocks began to transform the landscape of the previously clean floor. They were so proud of their block towers…

The smells of roasting lamb would have filled the air.  The family would have tasted the bitter herbs and feasted on the meat. The lamb’s blood would have been painted overhead, staining the door post.  As darkness came over them that night they knew death would soon be in the…

What takes real motivation? Picture one soldier who goes out against his will to spend hard days and weeks in the army. Picture another soldier who throws himself into the line of fire to save his comrades. There are probably two different motivators behind their actions. Fear can motivate. But…

Listen There are certain buzzwords used by many churches trying to reach my generation.  “Authentic” is one of them. Perhaps the underlying implication is that old worship rituals are not authentic and heart-felt. I’ve felt this way before.  I’ve worshipped in many churches and have seen times when someone is…

[Listen to audio] He couldn’t do it.  He just couldn’t leave the house.  How could he face another day?  It was too much after his wife had died.  He had watched her suffer slowly as the cancer conquered her body.  Now it was over. But the grief wasn’t. The lingering…

[Listen to audio version] Read 1 Samuel 10:23-24. Samuel had a pretty tough job. He had to get everyone behind a brand-new king. There had been no dynasty in Israel before his time. There was no “son of the king” who all the people could rally behind. Samuel had to…

Give Him An Inch He’ll Take A Mile | Listen to Audio| Read 1 Samuel 9-10. Our three-year-old gets along well with our small dog.  But there’s one big problem.  The dog likes to think he’s in charge of the three-year-old.  This happens because if you give him an inch,…

This Man Will Be the One To Fix Everything Listen to audio version. People get frustrated during election season. The typical campaign will offer grand promises to fix every problem. No candidate ever says they will just try their best. They all say, “I can fix everything for you.” We…

When we first moved to Arizona my children were amazed at the incredible views.  (Just wait until we get them to the Grand Canyon!)  Every turn of every drive and hike included an excited, “Whoooaa. Look at that!” We get to live in Rim Country in the middle of the…

[listen to audio] We are warned in Scripture that the devil is hungry. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He’s not just leisurely browsing for a snack.  He’s looking for his next prey and he wants to kill and devour.  That…

Patterns in History Have you ever found yourself reflecting on something foolish you’ve done? “I can’t believe I did that again!” I bought some Jell-O for my kids a while back.  “This will be a fun treat!” I thought.  The fun treat ended up in the carpet, on the shelf…

Abuse of Power “Let them have what they want.”  That’s not always something you want to hear.  Maybe a teenage son wants to go to a party but his parents know there are likely to be people with drugs there.  But the teen pleads anyways, “I’ll be fine, please just…

Christian meditations based on the accounts of the Kings of ancient Israel and Judah We Want A King! “We want a king!” the people cried. It was a simple request, really. The king would speak, everyone would listen. He’d be in charge. That’s the way it worked for the rest…

Listen to audio version Talking with Edith (not her real name) is always a treat. She has lived nearly ten decades and loves to share her stories. One story, which is similar to many others in her generation, deals with WWII and her wedding day. Like many young couples of…

Leading your family in a routine devotion allows for great freedom.  You can read right from the Bible, read randomly, follow any reading plan, read from a devotional booklet, read prayers, pray from the heart, read from a children’s Bible, or… sing. Music can be challenging to some.  Leading your family…