The season of Epiphany offers an opportunity to embody the spiritual energy of renewal and recommitment. Although New Years Day has passed, we can maintain the invigorating energy of making a fresh start by paying attention to the scriptural narratives and lessons of Epiphany. Spiritual energy is a grace gift of God that transforms our human perspective. When we gain the perspective of heaven—The Divine Perspective—it shifts and empowers our mental and emotional state of being. Thus, as new creations, are we re-created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
Continue readingIn celebration of Messiah's birth, I invite you to crank up the volume on this wonderful hymn "Angels From the Realm of Glory." In 2022, despite the war in Ukraine, my friend Volodymyr Khlysta produced this delightfully joyful music video of my arrangement with his students at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine.
Continue reading2023 marked one of our most productive seasons doing international missions projects and producing worship resources.
Continue readingOne of the most important aspects of giving thanks is to remember. Think back over your personal history. What do you have to be thankful for? How has God shown you his kindness during the story of your life? This passage reveals the power of remembering rightly. We can thank God for positive relationships, for partners in the gospel, and for his faithfulness in seeing us complete our mission on earth.
Continue readingIn this series we are considering the Divine Perspective regarding the question, “what is worthy of giving thanks for.” Paul writes, “I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord who has given me strength …” All right, stop right there. First, we give thanks to Jesus Christ, who has given us strength.
Continue readingGiving thanks and practicing the attitude of gratitude is particularly healthy and helpful during the Thanksgiving Holidays. Giving thanks is one of the essential actions and attitudes of worship that is in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Furthermore, more than sufficient scientific, psychological, and theological research supports the hypothesis that giving thanks in the context of worship is good for you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Continue readingThe values and principles reflected in the U.S.A. Declaration of Independence resonate with biblical ideas of innate human dignity, natural human rights, government by consent, self-governance, seeking redress, and a revolutionary spirit.
Continue reading