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I admit it. I’m basically a coward. Oh, I’ve had a few courageous moments, even one or two episodes of borderline heroism, but for the most part I am a trembling coward.

It’s not even the big things I’m afraid of, either, the running into a burning building or the standing up to a bully. No, it’s the little things that terrify me, like meeting someone new or trying something I’ve never done. I’m afraid of conflict, of censure, of being judged. Fear saps my courage and leaves me paralized. If I let it, it will steal my future. And it will do the same to you.

Fear is one of the most destructive emotions humans experience. It keeps us from realizing our full potential, builds barriers between us, and destroys bridges linking us together. Fear is the root cause for most of the conflicts throughout this earth’s history.

Fear is the reason for much of what is wrong with our society – the injustice, racism, greed, and hatred which plague our planet. We fear those who think differently, act differently, or look differently than us, and in our fear we strike out in anger and despair.

We’ve seen this played out over-and-over in the last year. Whether it was the mob storming the Capital, the racial riots in our nation’s cities, or the panicked crowds fighting for the last roll of toilet paper in our stores, it was fear that was the driving force behind their actions.

Fear is a pathogen which spreads faster than the most virulent of viruses. It feeds our insecurities, causing hoarding, arguments, lethargy and despair. In its most insidious forms fear leads to authoritarianism, racism, violence, and destruction. Fear is a virus eating away at the very fabric of society.

There is but one one antidote for this destructive virus, one vaccine which will provide immunity against its effects – Love! But not just any love – God’s love.

1 John 4:16 tells us “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” And verse 18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear…”

Fear doesn’t stand a chance when love takes the field. Conflict and strife flee from its presence. Love makes cowards into heroes, the greedy generous, and turns Saul’s into Paul’s (see Acts 9).

God’s love “drives out fear”, heals our wounds, gives us hope for the future. His love teaches us to “bless those who curse [us], pray for those who mistreat [us].” (Luke 6:28). It gives courage to face our fears and peace “which transcends all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7).

Are you afraid, my friend? Has fear left you paralyzed, unable to move forward, to step into your future? Do you look around you and “faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world” (Luke 21:26)? Then it’s time to turn, to turn from your fear and turn to God.

Invite God into your heart today and experience what it means to be truly loved. Let go of your fear and let love take the throne!

God bless and have a Happy Sabbath!

As I have followed the tragic events of the last two weeks I, like many of you, have looked on with disbelief and despair. What has become of this nation we all hold dear? Where have we gone wrong? And what can be done?

As I’ve considered this I have become convinced that where we have erred, both as a nation and as individuals, is in forgetting where our hope comes from. We have put our faith in human beings, ignoring God’s warning that, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5 NIV)

Over and over in earth’s history we’ve seen the tragic results when we trust in a man or a system of government to save us. We so easily forget that “Salvation comes from the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9). That is why Psalm 146:2 tells us, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.”

I have a newsflash for you – Donald Trump is not our Savior! Neither is Joe Biden! They are mere mortals and deeply flawed ones at that, just like you and I. Like us, “When their spirit departs, they [will] return to the ground; on that very day their plans [will] come to nothing.” (Psalm 146:4).

In spite of what they may tell you, no politician can save our nation. When they die “their plans come to nothing.” All their scheming, their rhetoric, their empty promises, will blow away with the winds of time, leaving their followers bereft, disillusioned, and lost. Why? Because they have trusted “in human beings, who cannot save.”

My friends, we have but one Savior, one who can be truly trusted, whose promises never fail. He is not a politician. He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” His name is Jesus Christ and “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

So, what should we do? Pick up any quarter and you will find the answer. There, prominently displayed on the front, are these words, “In God We Trust.” For far too long we have given mere lip service to these words. It is time for us to start walking the talk, to start living as if we truly believe what we say.

In the coming week, and in the weeks and months to come, let us not put our “trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” They will only disappoint and lead us astray. Instead, “Trust in the Lord with all [our] heart(s)…” (Proverbs 3:5).

God is our only hope and the only hope for our nation and our world. From this day forward, let us declare with every word we say and with everything we do it is in God, and God alone, we trust!

A few Christmases ago we started a fun tradition in our family. It’s actually an Icelandic tradition called Jolabokaflod, or “Christmas Book Flood”. At Thanksgiving we draw names and then on Christmas Eve we give a book and a bar of chocolate to the person whose name we drew. Then we all curl up with our books, munch on chocolate and read together into the night. For a family of bookworms like us, it’s the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.

This year I was given the book, Burden of Proof, by one of my favorite authors, Davis Bunn.
In Burden of Proof, the main character, Ethan, is given the opportunity to go back in time and fix a terrible wrong, something many of us wish we could do.

Ethan soon discovers, however, starting over poses its own problems and he finds himself wondering how to plan for his future – the second time around. Ethan brings his problem to a surfing buddy, Hennie, who provides him with some sound advice. Hennie tells Ethan, in planning for the future, to always “…aim for the eternal.”

My sons, Andrew and Alex, knew what Hennie was talking about. When they were teaching me to shoot, they told me to look at my target, not at the gunsight. If I didn’t follow their advice and focused on the gunsight, I’d miss every time. They knew you only hit what you aim at.

The same is true in life. If we focus on our earthly problems or the things this world has to offer, we’ll always miss “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 KJV). If, however, we “aim for the eternal”, following Paul’s advice to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”, we’ll stay focused on what we’re aiming for – an eternity with Jesus. (Colossians 3:2 NIV).

So, this year, fix your eyes on Jesus and “…press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13, 14 NIV). In everything you do, always “aim for eternal” and you’ll hit the mark every time!

God bless and have a Happy New Year!

For weeks now I’ve been unable to write. I’ve just had nothing to say. With all that’s happened in the last year I, like so many of you, just felt worn out. Then, yesterday, I was given a wonderful gift, a reminder of all that is so good about life, a reason to write once more. Yesterday, our son Andrew and his wife Paige announced they are going to have a baby! I’m going to be a grandpa!

Up until now I’ve been kind of lukewarm on this whole grandparent thing. My wife was eager to become a grandmother, but I was okay either way. If it happened it happened, but if not that was alright too.

Yesterday that all changed. When Andrew and Paige made their announcement I felt such a sudden, overwhelming sense of joy, hope and love, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Now I can’t wait! It’s going to be a long 7 months, but what a wonderful day that will be when we get to hold our grandchild for the first time!

That’s what children do for us. They give us joy and love, but most of all they give us hope – and after the year we just had we all could use a little bit more of that!

Over 2000 years ago, God sent His one and only son to be born in a manager on a cold dark night in a stable. Leaving the glories of heaven and the adoration of untold numbers of angels, Jesus humbled himself, becoming a helpless child, to bring hope to a world without hope, to bring joy when all seemed lost, and to show us how much we are loved.

Now, as we leave the Christmas season behind and start looking forward to a new year, we do so with a sense of hope, hope given us in the gift of a child so long ago. Just as our family will be eagerly awaiting the birth of our first grandchild, so we all can look forward to the return of the Christ Child, now a conquering King, in the clouds of heaven some day very soon.

On that day it will not be just a few shepherds and a couple wise men who see Him. No, when Jesus returns “every eye shall see him…” (Revelation 1:7). On that day “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Oh, what a day that will be! What joy! What a reason for hope!

Hope – That’s why God gives us children – to give us hope. And that’s why He gave us His Child, to give us a hope that will never end. As 2020 thankfully comes to close and we look forward to 2021, let us do so with hope, hope in a child, a child born so long ago, who is coming back soon as our Savior and King! Won’t you accept Him as your Savior today?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and other classics, grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 19th century. At the end of each day, as darkness spread over the city, Robert would watch with fascination as the lamplighters came down the street, lighting the gas street lamps. 

One evening, seeing their son with his face pressed against the window, Robert’s parents asked him what he was looking at. Robert replied excitedly, “Look at that man! He’s punching holes in the darkness!”

Long ago Jesus, the light of the world, was born in a dirty stable on a cold, dark night. Like the lamplighter’s in Edinburgh, Jesus came to punch holes in the darkness. He came to bring joy and hope, to light the way to a brand new day. 

Now, over 2000 years later, it seems to many that Light has gone out. COVID-19, political unrest, conflict, and natural disasters have left them reeling, their “hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…” (Luke 21:26). For many, as they look towards the future, they see only darkness, with not even a glimmer of light. 

But that Light still shines! It shines in you and I, in all God’s children. We, like Jesus before us, “are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14). As we go about our daily lives, sharing a kind word or a helping hand with those we meet, we too are “punching holes in the darkness”, helping others see the Light.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate “the Light”, let us determine to punch holes in the darkness wherever we go. Like St. Francis, let our prayer be:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

Let’s let the Light shine through us this season, bringing joy and hope wherever we go. Together let’s start “punching holes in the darkness” today, bringing the Light to everyone we meet!

The other day Ana and I got home from work after sundown and went to the chicken coop to gather the eggs. As we opened the barn door we saw something we weren’t expecting. There were chickens everywhere!

Turns out the door to the coop had fallen shut, preventing the chickens from getting into their home when sunset came. Instead they’d taken shelter in the barn. They were roosting on the gardening equipment, clustered around the closed door to the coop, and some were hiding in the tall weeds nearby.

It took us about a half hour to gather them all up and get them back where they belonged. As we headed back to the house, Ana laughingly said, “I can feel a story coming on!” She knows me so well!

We live in the final days of earth’s history. You need only look at the headlines to know this to be true. Soon, “…Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,
even to that time.” (Daniel 12:1 NKJV). Soon the cry will ring out, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6)

When that day comes God’s children, all those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” will be saved. (Revelation 7:14). Like the 5 wise virgins in the parable in Matthew 25 they will be welcomed into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Together with those who have died in Christ they will be caught up in the clouds, “to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall [they] ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

For those who have waited, however, those who are not prepared, the door will be forever shut. Like the 5 foolish virgins, and like our silly chickens, they will find themselves locked out in the cold, dark night and “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12).

This is a sobering thought, but there’s good news! The door is still open! There is still time, but it is quickly slipping away! “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

My friend, please don’t wait a moment longer. “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7). Don’t make the same mistake as our foolish chickens and wait till it’s too late. Give Jesus your heart today. The door’s still open – come on home!

Decisions, decisions! “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!” (Joel 3:14 NIV)

At this moment in time you and countless others face the most important decision of your life. How you decide will forever alter not only your life, but the lives of your children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors, in ways you can’t even imagine. The very fate of our nation and our world depend on the decisions that will be made.

This decision is a choice between two opposing parties and their leaders, two philosophies so diametrically opposed it is amazing they can coexist on the same planet. Never before has the choice been so stark.

One leader, from the moment he seized power has been determined to destroy all that is good and decent in this world. His influence has led to intolerance, bred hatred and division, encouraged violence, and stolen hope of a better life from millions.

In contrast, his opponent’s message is one of reconciliation and tolerance, promising prosperity and a brighter future. His government will bring peace to the nations and healing to the cast-out and down-trodden. Instead of hatred, he speaks of love. Instead of despair, he breeds hope.

What is this momentous decision I’m asking you to make? Well, it’s not the one you’re probably thinking of. It’s not about who you’ll vote for on November 3. It’s not about who will be our President for the next 4 years. It’s not about choosing between Donald Trump or Joe Biden, between Democrats or Republicans.

No, the decision I am asking you to make is far more important. It is truly a matter of life and death, a choice between “life and prosperity, death and destruction.” (Deuteronomy 30:15 NIV). On your decision hangs not only your future, but potentially the eternal future of all those with whom you come in contact and the ones you love and care about.

The choice you must make today is who will be your Lord and Master. Will it be Jesus Christ, who gave His life that you might live, or Satan, who seeks only to destroy? It would seem like an easy decision, but every day, every hour, thousands make the wrong choice. Don’t let that happen to you!

Time is short. Just look around and you’ll know it’s true. There is no more time for delay. “This day…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.” (Deuteronomy 30:19). “Choose for yourselves…whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15)

Who will get your vote today? Christ or Satan? The Dragon or the Lamb? The choice is up to you. “But as for me and my household,” our vote has already been cast – “we will serve the Lord.”

Won’t you join us and cast your vote for Jesus today?

Most weekdays I go down to the riverside park near work for lunch. It’s a wonderful break in the middle of a stressful day, just sitting and listening to the sounds of nature while I eat my lunch. The sunshine, the laughter of other picnickers, the breeze in the trees, all soothe my soul and prepare me to face another afternoon of seeing patients and shuffling paper.

There is one stressful part of these excursions, however – getting there! I have to cross a couple of busy streets and waiting at the crosswalk bugs me. I press the button for the crosswalk signal and I hear this annoying computerized voice say, “Wait, wait, wait.” I don’t have time to wait! I’m in a hurry to go relax!

Do you know what the hardest command in scripture is? “Wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14). Waiting is not something most humans do well. We want everything NOW, and sometimes even that’s not soon enough. We want our food fast, our cars faster, and our internet 5G. And when it comes to answers to prayer, well, yesterday would be nice!

Fortunately, God doesn’t do things according to our schedule. His answers always come right on time – never too late and never too early. In 2 Peter 3:9, the apostle reminds us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God is looking at the big picture and He’s not going to move until the time is right. Until then we have to wait, but waiting is rarely easy. That’s why the rest of Psalms 27:14 says, “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

It takes a strong person to wait, a person with a strong faith and a heart made new by the blood of Christ. The only way to get this kind of strength is by daily surrendering to Christ, studying His Word, and exercising our faith by claiming His promises.

So, this week, if you find yourself at a crossroads and all you’re hearing from God is an annoying, “Wait, wait, wait,” exercise a little faith. He’s got everything under control. He’s working “all things…together for good…” (Romans 8:28) and will make “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So instead of fuming and fusing about the delay, “be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.” You’ll be glad you did!

Recently our neighbor called sounding distressed. Turns out her cherished cat had gone missing and she was hoping we’d seen it. Unfortunately, we hadn’t, but I assured her we’d keep an eye out for it.

A few days later we thought we saw the cat in our garden, so we put a live trap out to try and catch it. A week went by without any luck, but we left the trap set.

This morning Ana went to feed the chickens and a few minutes later called me outside. We hadn’t caught the cat, but we did catch Pepe’ Le Pew! Now we had to figure out how to release a very unhappy skunk without getting sprayed.

At first I tried using a long pole to lift the lever to open the trapdoor, but that just got the skunk agitated. Ana tried slowly walking towards it while talking softly. This only earned her a warning foot stamp and a raised tail, so she quickly backed off.

Finally, we were able to cover the trap with a tarp and I opened the door with a rake. Pepe’ scurried off into the field without even a simple “thank you”. Ungrateful critter! But, heh, at least we didn’t get sprayed!

Later, as I headed to church, I thought how we are like that skunk sometimes. Ana and I were just trying to set it free, but it saw us as only a threat. Likewise, we many times find ourselves caught in traps of our own making, surrounded by temptation, with no apparent way out. When this happens, God is right there, offering to help. Unfortunately, instead of letting Him help, we see Him as a threat. We blame Him for our predicament and reject His assistance. We try to wiggle out on our own, only to find ourselves worse off than before.

How much better it would be if we’d just “Trust in the Lord with all [our] hearts and lean not on [our] own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). If we will learn to do this, to submit to God’s leading, then Jesus promises when we face temptation He will “show [us] a way out so that [we] can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).

This week when temptation comes your way, instead of trying to fight it on your own, ask Jesus to show you the way out. Remember, on your own you’re sure to fail, but “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NIV).

One of the perks of my new job, which I didn’t have at my previous position, is getting to eat lunch. What a difference this break in the middle of the day makes for my mental well-being! On an especially stressful day I can hardly wait for 12 o’clock to come, so I can escape the pressures of work for a precious hour of peace and quiet down by the river. It’s the highlight of my day.

Wenatchee is blessed with a beautiful park which runs for miles along the Columbia River. It’s got a 11-mile loop for walking and biking, beautiful flower beds, wonderful views of the river, and picnic benches in the shade. It’s a very pleasant getaway from the busyness of life.

During my lunch breaks I enjoy watching the people in the park. Elderly ladies gather in lawn chairs just to chat, old men walk their dogs, bicyclists speed down the paved trail, and children run and play.

It was one of these children who made me laugh the other day. I was sitting at a table, eating my lunch and reading, when this little boy ran up, face flushed and voice filled with excitement. “Mister,” he said, “there’s a big event coming tomorrow night! You’ve got to come!” He handed me a flyer advertising a concert at his church, then ran off to find someone else to tell about the “big event.”

I got a kick out of the little guy’s enthusiasm and later spoke to his father, letting him know how his son had made my day. The boy’s happy smile and positive attitude helped me through the next 4 stressful hours and still make me chuckle even 3 days later.

The thing which struck me as I was thinking about this experience was how excited the boy had been about the “big event” coming to his church. He just couldn’t keep quiet about it and was inviting everyone he met to come and see. I think that’s how Jesus wants us to be.

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In these last days, with Jesus’ coming just around the corner, we need to be like my little friend and get excited about sharing the Good News with those around us. We need to “change and become like little children”, telling everyone we meet, “Hey, there’s a “big event” coming soon! You’ve gotta come!”