T.D. Jakes (Let It Go) previously had stated that unforgiveness leaves people stuck in the prison of their past. He adds that the other danger of unforgiveness is that we become infected by it and have the potential to pass it on to others. The good news, Bishop Jakes tells us, is that just as God […]
Bishop T. D. Jakes (Let It Go) posits that forgiveness is a big idea, as opposed to the destructive, small ideas of revenge and anger. We need to think big thoughts in order to effectively introduce and practice forgiveness so that we can begin to heal. While we have experienced justifiable emotions such as hatred […]
In his Introduction to Let It Go, Bishop T. D. Jakes points out that the key to successfully navigating our transitional, desert times is to be intentional. He asserts: “Success is always intentional. No one walks across the stage to accept a college degree by accident. No one crosses the finish line in a marathon […]
Max Lucado (A Gentle Thunder) has lots of hummingbirds around his house. One day a hummingbird flew into his garage through an open door. However, this bird insisted on trying to exit via a closed window. Eventually the bird was trapped between two window panes. Max reached in, grabbed a few feathers, and jerked the […]
When my dad resided in the assisted living facility at Harwood Place in Wauwatosa, WI, he frequently could be seen walking the property, both inside and outside. He often wore a favorite yellow cardigan sweater with one or more of his World War II army medals affixed to it at chest height. This was so […]
When you reflect on your ministry downsizing or position loss, do you perceive yourself as an innocent victim of unchristian actions or behaviors? Ann Spangler ( The Peace God Promises ) points out that even for people who find no fault in their own hearts, it’s not healthy to take on the role of victim […]
Max Lucado ( A Gentle Thunder ) states that we all have our own preconceptions about God. However, Max adds, God has been known to surprise us. Here are some excerpts from Max’x list of surprises: “We expect God to speak through peace, but sometimes he speaks through pain.” “We think God talks through the […]
John the Baptist, Max Lucado ( A Gentle Thunder ) notes, was a public relations disaster. Mark 1:6 tells us that John “wore clothes made from camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.” Yet many people were drawn to John’s message, confessed their sins, and were baptized in […]
Yesterday my wife Vicki and I were in Knox, Indiana to attend a graveside memorial service for our dear friend Rudy. Rudy and Vicki met when they were paired in a pie-eating contest at the beginning of their freshman year at Valparaiso University. In a precursor to Man vs. Food, they won the contest with […]
In Chapter 18 of A Gentle Thunder author Max Lucado discusses Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding reception in Cana. He notes that when the wine was gone, Mary could have exploded by blaming others or imploded by blaming herself. But Mary had a third option, the best choice of all- she assessed […]
In A Gentle Thunder, Max Lucado retells the story of a king and his two sons. They asked their father if a gentleman was born or made. The first son said a gentleman was born that way, the second that one could become a gentleman through practice and discipline. The sons had a week to […]
Max Lucado (A Gentle Thunder) uses the account of Jesus feeding the 5000 to convey the message that even thought his people may give up, God will continue to be faithful. Max explains: “God’s faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of his children. He is faithful even when we aren’t. When we lack courage, […]