"Rejoice always," wrote Paul from a Roman prison. Rejoice is a rich word, meaning, according to a leading Greek lexicon, to be in a state of happiness and wellbeing. For many, this is a fleeting experience encountered rarely, not a reality coming even close to always. As Christmas approaches, and...

“Dad, you don’t know everything.” I remember hearing this more than once from my kids as they were growing up. As parents, we want to have all the answers — or, at least, appear that we do. When it comes to theology, we often do the same thing. Since God’s...

While rummaging through a drawer this week I came across something very special. A few months ago, the pastor and dear friend who married us 37 years ago gave us the hand-typed pages from our wedding ceremony. He started our wedding out with this statement, “The two most important relationships...

The battle was ended and the field was strewn with the wreckage of war. The victorious general of the Greek army looked out upon the place where he had bested the forces of Rome. But he was not jubilant. He was heavy-hearted. Though victorious, the cost had been far too...

Valuing Local Church Investment in View of Global Evangelism Let’s call it the paralysis of empathy. It’s that feeling you get when, for example, you sit down to watch a show on TV and a commercial breaks in with the emaciated form of an impoverished child living in the slums...

My life was full of fear when I came to Christ in college. I had an overwhelming fear of judgment for my sins. But I also had another kind of fear. I feared I would have to give up all the things I thought were important to me and gave...

Psalm 8 is not a long psalm, but a jam-packed psalm that defines the glory and majesty of our Lord. In it we see the heavens, children, animals, birds, man, and fish used to reflect the glory of God.  I was particularly taken with the verse 2, “Out of the...

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 Tara and I recently returned from a trip to Newport, Rhode Island where I began my Navy career. It was quite nostalgic seeing the Chaplain School, King Hall where I lived for two...

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine… So begins one of my favorite hymns of devotion to Jesus. It is a simple and rich hymn that has put words and melody to one of Christianity’s most intimate sentiments for over 140 years. The hymn reached its first...

My oldest son loves stories of knights and dragons, but he drew the line a few nights ago as we read to him the tale of Odysseus and the Cyclops from The Odyssey of Homer. The terrifying one-eyed giant devouring Odysseus’ hapless crewmates brought my son to tears. He couldn’t...

David’s deep meditation on the attributes of God led him to write Psalm 139. The truths of the psalm are mind-blowing truths about God. But to David, this mini-theological poem was deeply personal and practical. How about taking four days to mediate on the four sections of the Psalm? If...

What a remarkable encounter Ben shared with us last Sunday about the maintenance man that blessed him. He was staying at a military base and attending a nearby pastor’s conference. While there he met a remarkable young man that greatly encouraged him. I was captivated by the genuine and authentic...

We know well the credit card commercial slogan, “What’s in your wallet?” The idea is that you need the right card, the preferred card, the one that will get you the most—now. But what if we were to ask that question of our families? What’s in your family? Will the...

By Ben & Tara Orchard Do people notice God’s blessings in your life? Do they see that there is something different about you? The way you speak, the way you act, the way you conduct the business of your life? It’s a sobering thought isn’t it, to think, “At any...

A few years back I met a fellow chaplain at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. It was one of those times where you just “click” with someone. We were instantly brothers in the Lord and had so much in common. We’ve kept in contact from time to time over the...

Can God use messed up people? When I read about Abraham and Sarah, I would have to say, “Yes, He can.” Abraham was a liar and Sarah was spiteful. What a team! God was very patient and gracious with this couple. They weren't exactly model believers. I'm not sure what...

Last Saturday morning I went for a run. No big deal, except that due to an injury, I hadn’t been able to run at all for about three months. I’ve not been running fast or far, but it has been very satisfying to be on the road again. When I...

Experiences are the arena in which worldviews are proved. The lessons learned are then passed forward for the benefit of others. It might be something as small as a friendly warning to watch out for Aunt Gertrude’s mystery meat casserole (for the record, I have no Aunt Gertrude). Or, it...

Job got you down? Do you sometimes have to drag yourself out of bed to get ready for work? Are some days at work sheer drudgery? You’re not alone. Everyone has experienced this. We have seen in Genesis 3 that work has become laborious as a result of mankind’s sin.If...

Deprecans supercertari semel traditae sanctis fidei.Do you know what these words mean? Above is the crest for our newly-formed Northwest Institute of Christian Studies. At the top of the crest is the Latin phrase, which is the motto of the school. Interestingly, we were challenged to these very words by...