Writing to Help You Find and Share the Hope of Jesus
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”Proverbs 27:17 “You need to make sure you have a mentor.” Those were the wise words Pastor Ben Green, a former ATLAS Board member, told me when I first became director of ATLAS. He rightly understood that if I wanted others to see the value of mentoring … Continue reading Why You Need a Mentor: 4 Good Things Mentors Give Us
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2 Genesis 2 showcases the abundant love that God poured out on Adam. Along with the breath of life, God provided the garden as a home (2:8). He provided plentiful good food (2:9). He gave Adam the meaningful work … Continue reading No Good Apart from God
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”Isaiah 55:2 Cool Ranch Doritos and Hot Tamales. These are my two favorite junk foods. I could eat them all day, every day. They taste amazing, but I know they have no nutritional value. If … Continue reading Bible Sprinkles
As my daughters get older, I’m increasingly aware of my decreasing voice in their lives. Other influences (friends, media, etc.) are becoming more prominent. My dad jokes aren’t funny anymore. (Well, they’re still funny, they just biologically won’t be able to laugh at them again for probably another 15-20 years). Yes, I realize I still … Continue reading Wrecking Your Witness – 6 Ways to Make Sure Nobody Listens to You
It is the Lord who goes before you. - Deuteronomy 31:8 “You go first.” This is a statement my wife and I have heard frequently over the years from one of our daughters to our other daughter. From jumping into a lake to trying new food, our youngest has often served as a guinea pig … Continue reading “You Go First” – Giving Others the Gift of Going Second
In my part of the world (rural Minnesota), we are now over a month into this COVID-19 crisis that has gripped much of the world for even longer. If you haven’t been paying attention over the past month, then you’ve likely missed some important information. Because one thing a crisis will reveal to us is … Continue reading Faith at Work in a Crisis
During the eight years we lived in Pierre, SD, one of the things that captivated us about the area was the beauty of the Missouri River. Whenever we drove back to Pierre from visiting family in Minnesota, we were excited when the long, flat, five-hour drive was finally interrupted by beautiful rolling hills and the … Continue reading From Drought to Flood
Yesterday I finished reading The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. This insightful book provides an intimate look at British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, his family, and his cabinet during the German bombings, or “Blitz”, of England prior to the United States’ entry into World War II. One of Churchcill’s most remembered traits, of … Continue reading The Right Words for the Right Moment
That the God of all creation is wrathful doesn’t make it on to many bumper stickers, coffee mugs, or inspirational social media posts. You don’t find Romans 12:19, John 3:36, or Nahum 1:2 on decorative signs in boutique stores or hanging on a Christian family’s kitchen wall. Some Christians are offended by the idea of … Continue reading Don’t Be Offended – God’s Wrath on Good Friday
We often say to people making big decisions at big moments in life that they’re taking a “step of faith.” Whether it’s taking a new job, starting a new ministry, or moving to a new city, we easily recognize and rightly celebrate big steps of faith like these. But we don’t usually use that same … Continue reading Stepping into Small Moments
A Thrill of Hope 