Sitting Down With Christ.
As a pastor’s son I have had more than my share of Bible teaching. My earliest memories are of sunbeams, Sunday school and vacation Bible school. Also as a pastor’s son I had the special privilege of listening to thousands of sermons, and hundreds of revival preachers, all this before I was even a teenager. When I was five I even helped my dad study for Greek and Hebrew by holding his flash cards as he carried me to school in the mornings. As a teenager I read the Bible all the way through a few times. I loved the Psalms and Proverbs and developed a real liking for the beatitudes. By the time I was eighteen I would have to say that I  knew more about the Bible than I did abo

Jesus My Guide
I have been training over the past few weeks to become a fly-fishing guide. One of the things I am learning is to handle a raft and a drift boat on the South Holston river in Tennessee. I have had more than my share of experience canoeing, rafting and kayaking on rivers in the past so I entered this learning experience with allot of confidence. (my teacher may describe me as a little cocky). On my very first attempt to handle a double oar drift boat on a fast moving river I will have to admit I was clueless as to how to maneuver and my confidence level fell a few points. I had no idea how I was supposed to really use the oars. I had watched and listened intently to the instructions from

As It Is In Heaven
Recently I have been taking some time to share with my children the truth of the Lord’s Prayer. As a family we have recited the prayer many times. Like many we can recite it by memory. It seems to be a default prayer for us and I suspect for many others as well. How many times I have prayed that special prayer without really understanding it’s truth and power. Let me share with you a different translation of the Lord’s prayer than you may be used to. Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best - as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and

I Love You.
Three of the most powerful words in any language are “I love you”. Three words that can literally change the direction of a single life. I remember  speaking those words with a seventeen year old girl in high school. Today I have been married to that girl for twenty-eight years. I remember also a time when I was being punished by my father for lying about a grade in school. I felt awful, embarrassed and ashamed but my dad also told me that despite my lie that he loved me. This set the pattern for which I would father my own children. What is it about the words “I Love you” that can elevate us above the very worst circumstances we can find ourselves in? As