I was driving through the fair city of Colorado Springs yesterday, when I saw what I would later understand to be an anti-war rally. Rally is a strong word: there were three people on the street corner. The first sign I saw was being held up high by a young man. Across the top of the sign it said in big, block letters, “STOP THE.” Then there was a giant peace symbol. As I sat at the intersection I reflected for a quick moment on the bizarre message, “Stop the Peace.” Then the young man moved his hands and I could see more block letters at the bottom of the sign: “WAR NOW.” I could now read the sign in one of two ways. First, as “Stop the Peace, War Now,” which has a certain warmongering flair, or, as “Stop the Peace-War Now,” which is an interesting concept; I have never heard of a peace-war before. Finally, of course, I read the sign as this young man intended: “Stop the War Now, Peace.” Is our style of evangelism equally as confusing?

(Read on …)

I was standing on the Shingle Creek golf course in Orlando, Florida yesterday when I saw something somewhat unnerving. The course is very expansive and very green with few large trees. The result is a links-style golf course where the heavy winds can affect your play. There is also a large quantity of water along the course. On the third hole, as I stood in the tee box, there was a long, narrow pond that hugged the right side of the fairway. About fifty yards away sat an alligator, resting on the bank of the pond.

(Read on …)

Evangelicals agree that hell is a very real place where those who refuse to believe in Jesus will go. There is a distinction as to what happens in hell, though. Some believe that hell is a place where the wicked are punished and then they cease to exist. Others believe that hell is a place where the wicked will suffer everlasting torture. While it may seem that these two viewpoints do not matter, I believe that what one believes about hell affects what one believes about evangelism.

(Read on …)

When first you became a mother,

Your life changed; you changed,

You lost sleep, you lost strength, yet amid it all you gained power.

Unselfishness blossomed,

You left your life behind,

Oh, Elizabeth Darling: how you look like your mother!

When you next became a mother,

You were an expert,

Your fears had subsided, your strength emerged through weakness.

Your hands were full,

Work never ceased,

Oh, Jacob Zachary: how you make your mother beam!

The third time, some say,

Is a charm, and you agree,

You charged and did what you never thought you could.

Severely outnumbered,

You manage a heavy load,

Oh, Luke Carter: how you complete your mommy!

Thank you Mandy,

You are an example,

You provide meaning and purpose to three young lives.

You look well to the needs

of the household,

And you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

I love you.

“Many women have done excellently,

But you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29

When I was in Cairo, Egypt, I had the pleasure of visiting the Cairo Museum. This museum houses an astounding number of artifacts that appropriately have to do with pharaohs, pyramids, sarcophagi, and other ancient Egyptian traditions. I saw a large number of mummies including Rameses II, who most believe to be the Pharaoh in Exodus 5, and a mummified baboon. I saw fascinating jewels, weapons and chariots. Most of the tour was spent on the large collection of items removed from King Tut’s tomb. As I passed through rooms and rooms of items, I noticed a theme on the footstools of Tutankhamen.

(Read on …)