July 29, 2026 Jericho wasn't just another city. It was one of the oldest and most heavily fortified cities in Canaan. Massive walls surrounded it. From a human perspective, Jericho looked unconquerable. It represented everything standing between God's people and God's promises. And yet, before God brings down the walls, He reaches into the city to save one unlikely woman. Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especi

July 22, 2026 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite countr

July 15, 2026 “I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3 This week, I lost an amazing friend, one of the finest people I have had the privilege of knowing on my journey. Without question, he ranks among the top ten people I have met along the way. His name was Dickie Porter. I met Dickie when I was appointed pastor of the Rock Hall, Maryland, a town of 1500 people. I was to serve three small churches: Raum Chapel, Wesley Chapel, and Rock Hall UMC. Dickie wa

July 8, 2026 It was a terrible time…a time of blood and hatred…a time of great persecution and torture. The Roman Emperor Nero was on a rampage…demanding the public to worship him as god…torturing and maiming those who refused. Then the fire broke out…the year was 64 A.D….Nero used the fire of Rome as an excuse to build a grand palace, “the gold house,” but Nero also needed to find a scapegoat for the fire…and he found his scapegoat in the Christians.

July 1, 2026 Read Matthew 13:44-52 Reading the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price, I am reminded of walking along the beach, looking for Sea Glass. I was introduced to Sea Glass by good friends of our who live in Bethany. On the table in their living room is a bowl filled with pieces of glass of every color. Many times one side is frost covered and the other shiny, the effect of sand and waves. As I researched Sea Glass, I found out that purpl

June 24, 2026 Read John 10: 11-15 and Luke 10:30-37. One summer a few years ago, our family once again traveled to Shenandoah, Virginia, to the Skyline Drive, and camped and hiked atop the mountains above Luray, at Big Meadows. That year we did something new and exciting, something we had never done before. I joined my sons, Nate and Matthew, Rock Climbing and Rappelling off Little Stony Man cliffs. Here I am struggling up the rocks (remember...this was several years ago).

June 17, 2026 Read Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus makes it clear that there must be a direct correlation between how we have lived our lives and our relationship with God. If we truly have a relationship, if we truly have opened our hearts to Christ, to our Father in heaven, it will be reflected in our actions. Once we recognize our own sinfulness, the fact that we are a mess, and realize what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross two thousand years ago, if we wrap our minds arou

June 10, 2026 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying... -Matthew 5:1 (NKJV) Jesus walks up on a hillside near Capernaum, near the Sea of Galilee and delivers His most powerful sermon. Probably over the course of several days, Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes, proclaims that position, authority, and money are not important in His kingdom, and ex

June 3, 2026 Read Luke 15:11-32. Thirty young men, dressed in shrouds (and thus, nearly naked), were led to the scaffold. The morning was bitter, the temperature below freezing, as they were compelled to stand for half an hour while the burial service was slowly read. He had spoken out against the current regime...treason. Facing them stood the soldiers with their muskets. A pile of coffins was stacked suggestively in a corner of the yard. At the last moment, with the muske

May 27, 2026 This week I am on vacation in Alesund, Norway, so I thought I would share a blog I wrote several years ago when I was visiting my son when he studied at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. ******************************************************************************* July 6, 2015 I had the wonderful privilege of worshipping at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia this morning with my son, Nate. As you approach the front doors to the church there are picnic ta

May 20, 2026 This week I am on vacation in Bergen, Norway, so I thought I would share a blog I wrote several years ago when I was visiting my son when he studied at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. ******************************************************************************* July 4, 2015 Today I had the unbelievable privilege of going to the Sydney Harbor and Opera House with my son, Nate. We were able to see Puccini’s opera, Turandot. The opera takes place in Chi

May 10, 2026 - Mother's Day Three sons, who were very successful, discussed the gifts they gave their elderly mother on Mother’s Day. The first said, "I built a big house for our mother." The second said, “I sent her a Mercedes." The third said, "I've got you both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible, and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took 20 monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribu

May 3, 2026 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. But when the day was

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 This week, I’d like to share a preview of my book, The Three Daily Disciplines: A Leadership Carol (Audio Book and corresponding Study Guide available). I hope you enjoy Chapter 1, “The Power of an Unselfish Prayer.” Chapter 1: The Power of an Unselfish Prayer Bruce stood at the front of the conference room, his arms crossed and a smug expression on his face. His recent promotion to Director of Marketing at Turks Marketing Solutions had been the next

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 This week, I’d like to share a preview of my book, Three Years: Making a Difference in the Time You Have Left. I hope you enjoy Chapter 1, “The Ladder of Virtues.” Chapter 1: The Ladder of Virtues A Day that Changed my Life Forever At first, I had no idea that something was wrong. When I walked in the front door, having driven the two-and-a-half hours home from seminary in the nation’s capital, I was excited. We had purchased tickets to take our four

April 12, 2026 God is ready to do a “New Thing," a “new thing” in each of your lives. It doesn’t matter how old you are…how young…how rich…how poor…how good…how lost…how long you’ve been a Christian…or how short a time you’ve known Jesus. God is ready to do a “New Thing” – “ something you wouldn’t believe ” – “ to give you a future and a hope ” – “ Do you not see it? ” Unfortunately, many times we are afraid to allow God to do a “New Thing” in our lives. Carole Lewis wr

Easter Sunday - April 5, 2026 Why did the angel move the stone? For whom did he roll away the stone? For Jesus? Did the stone have to be removed for Jesus to exit? Was the one who conquered death so weak that he couldn’t push away a rock? Max Lucado writes, “ The God who spoke still speaks. The God who forgives still forgives. The God who came still comes. He comes into your world…He comes to do what you can’t…He comes to move the stones you cannot budge …” God

Palm/Passion Sunday - March 29, 2026 The crucifixion is six days away. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem despite the danger, because there are some things he must say, things he must do. Perhaps the most important thing that he said publicly, he said symbolically. He rode a donkey into town. And why is this so significant? Prior to this day, Jesus always walked with his disciples. He ate and slept and sweated in their midst. Often he drew apart from them for prayer, but he never e

5th Sunday of Lent - March 25, 2026 In ancient Phoenician mythology a phoenix was a mythical bird with beautiful gold and red plumage . At the end of its life-cycle the phoenix would build itself a nest of cinnamon twigs that it then ignited; both nest and bird burned fiercely and were reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arose. The new phoenix was destined to live, usually, as long as the old one. Isn’t that the message of the Gospel? Out of the ashes, Go

4th Sunday of Lent - March 18, 2026 During the Vietnam War… …David Roever went through rigorous training to become part of the ultra elite Special Forces team the Navy used on dangerous search-and-destroy missions. During a nighttime raid on an enemy stronghold, David experienced the greatest trial of his life. When he and his men were pinned down by enemy machine-gun fire, he pulled a phosphorus grenade from his belt and stood up to throw it. But as he pulled back his arm, a