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“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16)


The patriarch Job was, according to God’s own testimony, the most perfect and upright man in all the earth (Job 1:8), yet he was subj... More...
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“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1 Timothy 1:5)


As Paul begins his instruction to his disciple Timothy, his “own son in the faith” (v. 2), he warns him about false doctrine (v. 3) and petty, fruitless arguments (v. 4). He contrasts such false teaching with his own... More...
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Jimmy Carter Calls for Dividing Israel Before the Inaguration
By The Berean Call Staff [In a] New York Times editorial, in which Jimmy Carter publicly called for President Obama to divide the land of Israel at the United Nations before Inauguration Day. During his presidency, Carter went to great lengths to obtain peace between Egypt and Israel, and since that time, the former President […]
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“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)


Some have argued that James contradicts Paul at this point, since Ja... More...
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“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)


The Lord Jesus Christ must have considered this exhortation to be of great importance, for it appears eight times in the four gospels and seven times in Revelation, all as spoken by Christ Himself—as well as one more time apparently uttered by John (R... More...
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New Booklet: Substitution—He Took Our Place!
NEW BOOKLET: Substitution—He Took Our Place! by Harry Ironside is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet.  The Booklet is 10 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Our Booklets are designed to give away to others or for your own personal use. Below is the […]
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“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)


The high priest of Israel wore the inscription “holiness to the LORD” to illustrate to all who obeyed God that they were “accepted before the LORD” (Exodus 28:36-38). Joshua, as a ... More...
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“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 106:48)


Many is the speaker who, after he has made some point which he considers especially good, will then say: “And all the people said, ‘Amen’” (meaning “that’s right!&rdqu... More...
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“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” (Job 1:7)


This remarkable scene in heaven provides us a striking picture of Satanic activity. The devil, in his opposition to God and His program of salvation, evidently never rests.... More...
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“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15)


Some things in Scripture are harder to understand and believe than others. Christ, the Sovereign Creator of all things, the offended Judge who declared the penal... More...
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Commentary: What Do Hitler, Alice Bailey, and Replacement Theology Adherents Have in Common?
By Philip Gray Free-lance writer and contender of the faith What Do Hitler, Alice Bailey, and Replacement Theology Adherents Have in Common? Basically, the answer to that question is that in all three cases, they reject the Jews as God’s chosen people. Those who embrace Replacement Theology probably don’t realize that the thinking behind Replacement […]
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“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” (Psalm 139:21-22)


Once a conscious choice has been made to reject God’s truth and love, an individual begins to hate God and the people of God. The Scriptures are replete with these insights... More...
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“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1:28)


The apostle Paul provides a chilling analysis of the process by which the human mind progresses through rejection of the evidence of God’s existence to ultimately worshiping the creature more th... More...
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“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)


It has been over 90 years since “The War to End All Wars” ended in victory for those who had &ldqu... More...
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“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)


It is absolutely clear that God is love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:19) Therefore, many have suggested that such a unilateral love... More...
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The morning after a long night of election results, I confess, my heart is neither more or less joyful than it was the day before. The source of my hope remains in Jesus and the gospel. Some aspects of the election encourage me, but others equally alarm me. Of all the elections of my life time, this has been the most polarizing—to my own heart and emotions, not to mention the polarization of Christianity and Americans in general.
For that reason, I’m not terribly emotionally invested into the American political process. I don’t believe God was wringing His hands waiting for the electoral vote tally last night. God doesn’t need the American political process to help Him fulfill His purpose. And contrary to popular opinions in any election, no candidate is a messiah.
That said, I try to be an optimist. This morning, I’m reflecting on three things—what I’m amazed by, what I’m thankful for, and what I pray for regarding the outcome of last night’s election:
Things that Amaze Me…
I’m amazed that we actually get to choose our government—the vast majority of human beings that ever lived on planet earth simply had to accept whatever government was thrust upon them. Millennia of people would marvel at the idea that we actually get to vote—what a privilege! America is a historical anomaly, and I’m grateful for it!
I’m amazed at the negativity of some Christians—when I look at many secular political leaders through a moral/character lens, admittedly I’m very disappointed (that includes every president in my life time, and most preceding my birth.) As a nation, we really have not had many leaders with strong morals in personal behavior or sexual ethics—especially if you study their “pre-presidential days.”
Yet, when I look through the lens of providence, policy, leadership, and God’s eternal purpose; then I accept those who God raises up, and do exactly what He said—pray for them and esteem them. I acknowledge that most political leaders in the Bible also had moral and behavioral failures, and yet they were still used of God to fulfill His purposes.
I’m amazed at the providential turn of events—No candidate is the source of my hope—Jesus is. And I don’t pretend to understand what the election results actually mean on a grand scale or what God is actually doing through all this; but there’s no denying that this was an outcome that any political professional considered nearly impossible. In that I take hope that God ordered these events for His purposes—whatever they may be. It reminds me that all the scheming of man cannot undo the purposes of God. It makes me really glad I know Jesus and belong to Him!
I’m amazed at our propensity to presume outcomes—As Christians, we tend, almost subconsciously, to impose our will or expectations transparently over God’s. We tend to jump to conclusions in regards to what He is really doing. Yet, God will not be placed in a box, and He usually blows up human expectations in ways that leave us speechless.
My point is this: in this election, as with all others, God could just as well be hastening the decline of America as much as preserving it. He could just as well be judging as blessing. We just don’t know yet. Either way, He is absolutely unfolding His will. We can hope and pray for “what we think would be best” but only time will tell as we watch God work. It’s important that we keep our eyes on Jesus, and keep our expectations grounded in His grace.
Things I’m Thankful For…
Thankful that I can accept any election outcome as “God’s will”—The powers that be are ordained of God, and that gives us all a reason to rest.
Thankful to live in a nation where the voice of the people is still in play—I believe we witnessed history last night as an outsider overcame astounding odds and an enormous political/financial/media machine to become president-elect—against all odds and expectations. The whole process actually restores a bit of my faith that the American political system is still a reality.
Thankful to have a presidential ticket that includes a committed Christian—This is really big to me. Mike Pence is a committed Christian with a clear and respected voice, and I’m thrilled that God has raised him up to have a voice in the new administration. Some see him as a compromiser. I believe that view is prematurely judgmental. I’m thankful he accepted the opportunity to step into the ticket with a biblical voice, and I hope he will use it wisely with God’s power.
Thankful to have a presidential ticket that isn’t afraid to refer to God and prayer—I’ve missed having national leaders who openly and humbly confess dependence upon God and who unashamedly call our nation to prayer and faith. In recent years we’ve seen open disdain for Christ and open tolerance for everything against Christ. Perhaps it will be refreshing to hear references to God and faith once again from our nation’s highest leaders.
Thankful to have a presidential ticket that seems to value the constitution—it remains to be seen what kind of president Mr. Trump will actually be, but every indication points to the fact that his coalition will respect the constitution and strengthen the institution and processes that actually make us a nation of liberty.
Thankful to see American’s deliver a major statement to mainstream media—Our journalistic institutions have never more clearly revealed how exceedingly liberal, biased, duplicitous, and agenda-driven they are. It is refreshing to me to see Americans deliver a loud statement of rebuke to those institutions. It seems to me the media has lost a lot, or should lose a lot, of credibility this election season.
Thankful that perhaps our religious freedoms will realize greater priority—If President Trump follows through on his promises, we can expect that the religious liberties we cherish will remain intact a bit longer. Time will tell.
Things I Pray For…
I pray that Christians will love through the gospel, as half the country is perplexed—Half the people you meet today will be discouraged or even fearful. You are a voice of hope, and you know the source of hope—so speak up, love well, and take courage and confidence in Christ.
I pray that the gospel will grow through faithful Christians and churches—This morning gives me a great sense of responsibility to steward “this moment” for the gospel like never before. As American Christians we have freedom, opportunity, and resources that no Christians have ever had. To whom much is given, much is required! I pray we will collectively become more passionate for the gospel.
I pray that God will guide our president-elect, and give him wisdom—Just as I have prayed for and reverenced President Obama for eight years, I will begin to pray for our next president. The difference is, this one is actually asking for prayer and admits his need for wisdom. That’s meaningful to me, and I know our prayers will make a difference for our leaders—otherwise God would not have told us to pray.
I pray for the families of our new president and vice-president—I cannot imagine the magnitude of the pressure and scrutiny that descends upon these families as they enter office. I will pray for their safety and strength, and for their health as a family.
I pray that our new president will turn his heart toward God—Past failures do not prevent the possibility that God could use President Trump to be a great president and leader—many biblical examples come to mind. Again, only time will tell, but I begin to pray today that he will soften and humble his heart. I pray that the immense responsibility placed upon his shoulders will reveal to him his desperate need for a personal relationship with Jesus and total daily dependence upon God.
I pray that those whose hope is shattered will find real hope in Christ—God could use something like this to turn Hillary Clinton or others to Jesus Christ and the hope that can only be found in Him. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see people come to Christ through all of this?
I pray that Mike Pence will be a Daniel of profound influence—As God placed Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, Esther in Persia, Paul in Rome—so I believe He has placed Mike Pence (and others) in Washington. Pence has a clear testimony of faith, obviously understands the gospel, and very articulately communicates his love for God. To me it will be really cool to watch how Mike Pence stewards that influence and how God uses him at the highest levels of global power. I don’t know if, in my lifetime, we’ve had a more articulate and respectful Christian in such visible and influential proximity to the president.
I pray that we will use the time we have left to preach Christ—Jesus left us here for one purpose—to get the gospel to every one we can. That’s what is eternally important. If we fail to steward this moment for Jesus, then it is ultimately in vain.
The fields are white unto harvest—there are many who will receive Jesus, given the chance to comprehend the true gospel. No doubt, Jesus is building His kingdom, and He wins ultimately and forever. Remember your true citizenship. Remember your true calling. The only way we can leverage our American freedom in a way that is eternally meaningful is to help others come to Jesus Christ.
Be grateful for the “American dream”—but be hopeful in the gospel, and live for eternity!
Thanks for letting me ramble!
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 
 
PS—I have no intention of letting the comments on this post to digress, so if you need to refute, do so on your own space in social media. Non-encouraging comments will not be posted.
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“It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” (Exodus 31:17-18)


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This graphic is an edited screen capture which could be used to document some discussions I’ve overhead or read about. I commuted with a young man who took a great deal of pride in not having a doctrine and said neither did his church. I found that unfortunate – and still do.

But yesterday, as I wrote about the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s doctrinal and political issues, I mentioned that there still are such divisions within Christianity and among very good people. So it would be a good idea to study what doctrine is and consider its source.
Based on that simple definition, my commuting partner was wrong. I’m certain he had been taught by his church. I’m certain that a lack of doctrine could be defined as a doctrine since it entails a set of beliefs held by his church.

So, my question today is: What is the source of your doctrine? Even if you have determined you are not to believe in God, Christ, Bible, etc. – what is the source of that belief?  Surely we all have a belief system, correct? Something that allows us to differentiate between right and wrong, whether it is actions we do or another does to us? Where did they originate, were they taught?

The Bible has been taught to me for decades, and I continue to learn from it. There are some denominations that teach differently from what I’ve found to be accurate in God’s word. Not my job to change them. It is my job to point to the Bible where the word Doctrine is found fifty times in the Bible. First, spoken by Moses as he praised God:

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:1-4 KJV)

I will not be as Zophar in Job, jumping to conclusions:

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. (Job 11:3-4 KJV)

Zophar was in error. Job’s beliefs were pure. What happened to him was not punishment, retribution nor judgment. Jesus did recognize incorrect doctrine and spoke against it.

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:11-12 KJV)

People were astonished at His:

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29 KJV)

Jesus taught doctrine, too. As the title on the graphic displays:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

Does not mean we must accept unbiblical doctrine – but we must love each other when discussing it. If we are His disciples.


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This graphic is an edited screen capture which could be used to document some discussions I’ve overhead or read about. I commuted with a young man who took a great deal of pride in not having a doctrine and said neither did his church. I found that unfortunate – and still do.

But yesterday, as I wrote about the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s doctrinal and political issues, I mentioned that there still are such divisions within Christianity and among very good people. So it would be a good idea to study what doctrine is and consider its source.
Based on that simple definition, my commuting partner was wrong. I’m certain he had been taught by his church. I’m certain that a lack of doctrine could be defined as a doctrine since it entails a set of beliefs held by his church.

So, my question today is: What is the source of your doctrine? Even if you have determined you are not to believe in God, Christ, Bible, etc. – what is the source of that belief?  Surely we all have a belief system, correct? Something that allows us to differentiate between right and wrong, whether it is actions we do or another does to us? Where did they originate, were they taught?

The Bible has been taught to me for decades, and I continue to learn from it. There are some denominations that teach differently from what I’ve found to be accurate in God’s word. Not my job to change them. It is my job to point to the Bible where the word Doctrine is found fifty times in the Bible. First, spoken by Moses as he praised God:

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:1-4 KJV)

I will not be as Zophar in Job, jumping to conclusions:

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. (Job 11:3-4 KJV)

Zophar was in error. Job’s beliefs were pure. What happened to him was not punishment, retribution nor judgment. Jesus did recognize incorrect doctrine and spoke against it.

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:11-12 KJV)

People were astonished at His:

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29 KJV)

Jesus taught doctrine, too. As the title on the graphic displays:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

Does not mean we must accept unbiblical doctrine – but we must love each other when discussing it. If we are His disciples.


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Just four months ago, in June of this year, our three-year-old grandson, Chandler, was in the pediatric intensive care unit at Kaiser Sunset Hospital in Hollywood with necrotizing pneumonia.
It was a close call that included a lung surgery, ten days in the hospital, and weeks of quarantine and some of the strongest antibiotics available even after he was out of the hospital. (I wrote about these days and what the Lord taught us in the hospital here.)
Since June, we have been doing everything we could to guard Chandler from any possible germs or reinfection. But no amount of hand sanitizer or healthy eating could have protected him from the all-boy fall he had Monday night when he became air born while playing and landed on his head on concrete. He blacked out briefly but came to when our son-in-law, Peter, rushed to pick him up.
Peter and Danielle decided to take him to urgent care to be checked. The doctor checked his vitals, asked him questions, and, thinking he seemed fine, suggested an MRI rather than a CT scan. (CT scans have such high levels of radiation that they become dangerous, especially if used repetitively. Chandler just had one a few months ago at the time of his lung surgery.)
At first, Peter and Danielle were thankful to be able to avoid another CT scan. As they were waiting for the MRI, however, they just couldn’t shake the sense that they needed to have him checked more carefully than an MRI could do. After some prayer and consulting with a other doctors on the phone, Peter asked the attending doctor if he would be willing to order the CT scan in spite of the risks.
This decision proved to be of the Lord as the scan revealed that Chandler’s skull had been fractured in three places and that there was blood leakage near the brain. He was rushed into an emergency surgery that lasted into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
In surgery, the doctors removed a hematoma and were able to get the bleeding stopped. They also wired Chandler’s skull together. After surgery, the surgeon told us that the scan and the surgery saved Chandler’s life.
From the recovery room, Chandler was airlifted to Kaiser Sunset in Hollywood for further evaluation.
About the time Chandler fell Monday night, I had just arrived in Michigan to preach for Dr. R. B. Ouellette at the Church Triumphant Conference. I was to teach sessions throughout the day on Tuesday and then preach for the evening service. When Terrie called to relay the news, however, I made plans to fly back to Lancaster immediately. I spent the night in fervent prayer at gate 76 of Detroit International Airport as a team of doctors performed a delicate surgery on my grandson. I arrived back in Los Angeles shortly after the medevac helicopter brought Chandler in.
This past week in the hospital has been excruciating as we’ve sat in the same PICU wing and same waiting rooms praying once again for our grandson to pull through.

We praise the Lord that the surgery was successful and have been praying, waiting, and watching for every little step of improvement along the way.
One thing that always touches me deeply about these moments is how quickly we take for granted the little things. Hour by hour, we find ourselves praying for such requests as that Chandler would be able to eat, have a bowel movement, sit up, stand, step—all those things that we just do naturally and tend to take for granted. During this past week, I’ve often been convicted about the lack of gratitude in my heart on “regular” days.
These past four months have also reminded me in a profound way that God has a special plan for Chandler’s life. He’s not yet four, and he’s already had two near-death experiences and two major surgeries.
I’ve read that the most formative years of a child’s life are between the ages of two and three and that age three in particular is significant for personality development. I truly believe that Chandler, who has spent over two weeks of his most formative year in PICU, is certainly being prepared by God for a very special purpose.
This past Tuesday night, as I looked out of Chandler’s hospital window over the nighttime lights of Los Angeles—a city of 3.8 million people—I was reminded of what a great need there is in our world for Christians who will share the light of the gospel. Chandler’s name means “candle maker,” and I am praying that God will use him in a great way to reach souls for Christ.
Thank you for your continued prayers for us and especially for Chandler. We are touched and encouraged by the outpouring of response in prayer from friends in the gospel around the world.
Chandler was discharged from the hospital yesterday to continue recovery at home. We were amazed and grateful, and we know the Lord is working in response to prayer. We do ask for continued prayer as Chandler still has a long road of recovery ahead of him. We’re specifically praying for his headaches and dizziness to subside as well as for the swelling to go down and for his skull fractures and surgery incision to heal.
Please pray also for Peter and Danielle as these have been challenging days for them. Terrie and I have marveled at God’s grace in their lives as we’ve watched them go through these times with Chandler. God is already using this couple greatly in ministry, and I believe He is preparing them for increased effectiveness as well.
Finally, we ask that you would pray for God’s hand of protection on Chandler and for God’s grace to continue working in his young life that he might be greatly used of God.

Related posts:
Update on Chandler and Waiting on the Lord Praising the Lord for Answered Prayer for Chandler Our Newest Grandson: Chandler Paul View the full article

It’s Monday morning.
For a pastor, that’s a low time of the week—generally speaking. The typical demons of doubt and second-guessing attempt to do their work— “Did anything I said yesterday make sense?” “Did anything in the message actually help people?” “Were they thinking of the truth or the time?”
The accuser tries to get into our heads— “No—they were bored out of their minds and couldn’t wait for you to sit down!” “No—you can’t do this, you aren’t effective, and you should stop trying to be effective.”
Any more, I see a lot of articles about pastors resigning. Then I see a lot of articles about how hard ministry is, how burdened ministers are, etc., etc.
There’s certainly enough negativity and discouragement to go around. I recently asked a pastor “How are you doing?” His response was simply, “Well, I haven’t quit yet!”
I thought, “What a sad outlook and down-hearted attitude.” I prayed, “Lord, don’t ever let me have that spirit of despair. I want to keep loving ministry and keep enjoying helping people meet you!”
In the midst of all the despair, God is good. He has a way of countering the negativity.
A late night text said, “The message today really helped me.” Then I opened a card this morning, and one voice shares quotes or principles from two or three different recent messages and how the word of God helped her. Then a short email from a friend who said, “I’m really being blessed by this current series.” Then, two decision cards of people who were saved yesterday that I was unaware of.
One positive response to God’s word reminds me that ministry is always worth it, and hard times are worth plowing through.
Why are the unique spiritual burdens and spiritual warfare of ministry worth it? Why do I want to run this race with patience? Why do I want to finish this course with joy?
Here are seven reasons…
1. The Gospel is the greatest cause in the world—My life was changed by Jesus Christ, and this week, someone else’s will be as well! For that one, I’m plan to keep preaching, teaching, loving, and pressing forward.
2. God’s people are the greatest people in the world—As busy as they are, as beat up as the world leaves them, as pressed as their lives are—they love Jesus, they love His church, they love His word, and they are faithful! What a privilege to love and to be loved in local church ministry! EBC family is just wonderful. While Monday’s are hard, it’s generally because Sunday wasn’t! I just want to say, “I really love my church family!”
3. Every vocation brings it’s own burdens and battles—Sure, ministry has its unique challenges and pressures, but so does every other career. Heaven will be awesome, but until then, we groan—no matter what we do vocationally. My unique version of “groaning” also brings with it truck loads of blessings and victories. Most of them I won’t see until Heaven, but they are real none-the-less.
4. One changed life outweighs a huge number of burdens—Encouragement is strangely powerful. One text message. One voice-mail. One email. One life changed is enough motivation to press on. To know that one heart was effected, one decision was impacted, one life was brought to Jesus—that’s enough to make it all worth it. One positive outcome is very powerful to silence the accuser.
5. God’s word is eternally true and always effectual—God promised that His word would not return void. Someone recently said to me, “I love our current Sunday night series.” What they didn’t know was that I was thinking, “Everybody hates this series! I think I’m going to cut it short.” How short sighted I was. God’s word is having impact in lives that I may never meet on earth. His word is seed that will always bring a harvest. My job is not to measure the harvest or fruit, but to faithfully and continually and abundantly keep planting seed.
6. Hard times are tunnels not walls—No matter how Monday morning feels, or no matter what season of fatigue or hardship you are going through right now—it will have an end. Storms pass. Night turns to day. Don’t let hard times blind you to the blessings that God is abounding around you.
7. Ministry fruit is measured in decades not days—After 27 years of ministry, I still struggle to “see” or “measure” fruit. We live in a world that is driven by “visible results.” We are conditioned to want visible, measurable, quantifiable evidence of our value and our effectiveness. In reality, the most valuable outcomes of our ministry labor will not be truly seen until we are in eternity. The great challenge is to rest in His reward, knowing that He is empowering and using us to make a difference that we cannot always see or touch.
Yes, pastors often walk through the lowest moments of people’s lives over and over again. Yes, there are immature or even pathological people that are mean-spirited, hurtful, and unjustly critical. Yes, there are a very few who try to play politics or get power-trippy. Yes, there are those who smile to your face and stab you in the back. Yes, sometimes mean things are said about your family, your messages, your decisions. But those are the fewest, and unfortunately, at times they are the loudest.
Being faithful in ministry is still worth it! Pressing through the battles and spiritual warfare is still worth it!
You might be one day away from one more life being changed by your faithfulness.
You attitude is everything! Keep looking up, eyes on Jesus, pressing forward in faith. Keep serving in joy, giving grace, extending mercy, and doing what little you can to impact others for the kingdom.
For by faith we know that our labor is not in vain.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
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“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:4)


It seems surprising that “foolish talking” and “jesting” would be condemned as things that should “not be once named among you” (v. 3). Yet here it is, and commentators usually assume that the foolish... More...
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Pictures Say a “Million” Words About Bethel – “As Above, So Below”
Dear Lighthouse Trails: So Bethel Church leadership cannot feign ignorance on this phrase as their “Physics of Heaven” shows they are thoroughly versed in New age teachings.  I was on Facebook scrolling the  news feed when I saw a sponsored ad for Bethel advertising their coming “Open Heaven” Conference.   Well within the first 10 […]
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Psalm 81:6 begins with these words “I removed his shoulder from the burden.” This is God speaking regarding his deliverance of the nation of Israel. What’s amazing about it, is that God’s deliverance often had temporary negative aspects or impact.
Think about it. He took Joseph to Egypt through slavery and prison, only to elevate Him to the highest power and authority in the land. Years later, he led the children of Israel out of slavery through a difficult journey filled with potential threats and risk. What’s my point?
Sometimes God allows discomfort in our lives because He’s removing a great burden and replacing it with a greater blessing. Sometimes it’s possible for us to continue bearing up under pressures and circumstances that God does not will for us, or that have served God’s temporary purpose. In those burdens, we struggle and wrestle and distress, all the while not really realizing that God has a better path of deliverance for us. Perhaps we get “stuck in the burden” because it’s “the only path we can see” at the moment.
One author I read calls this “learned helplessness.” In other words, we tend to adapt to negative circumstances in our lives and accept their burden because we view ourselves as helpless in them; rather than seeing ourselves as the beloved children of a perfect Father.
The nation of Israel, by Exodus chapter one, had a massive case of “learned helplessness.” They were bearing up under horrific burdens, and saw no other possible way. They accepted their burdens, and lived under their weight, never realizing that God desired to deliver them.
Then, when God finally took steps to remove the burden, ironically, they resisted! Perhaps they feared for their survival? Perhaps they felt slavery was better than dying in the wilderness? Their “learned helplessness” was blinding their hearts and minds to the better plan of God.
What did God do? He pressed through their fears, complaints, and paranoia. He refused to give up on their faithlessness. He delivered them in spite of themselves, and a generation later, the nation was writing a different story of victory and blessing in the promised land.
Remember those words: “I removed his shoulder from the burden” (And perhaps we could add: “even though he was fearful of it at first!”) God took His children on a journey to something far better than the burdens to which they had grown accustomed. He has done that many times in my life, and He’s likely doing it in yours from time to time. From the front view of the trial, it seems like God is increasing the burden. But in the rear view mirror, you will always see that He was actually delivering you from a greater burden and bringing you into greater blessing! Be patience, endure, hold on to Him and let His process play out. You will always be glad you did!
Take heart today in the love, protection, and leading grace of your Heavenly Father! He is perfect, and whatever painful or discomforting thing He is unfolding in your life—if you’re following Him–is surely and ultimately working in your best interest!
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“And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.” (Deuteronomy 13:10-11)


In context, this “wickedness” ... More...
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