Matthew 14:27-31 This morning as I read this passage, a simple thought struck me. Peter stepped out of the boat because of one word from Jesus: “Come.” He did not step out because the storm had stopped. He did not step out because the waves had settled. He did not step out because he… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Mikes Blog
When Anger Comes
“Duty is ours; results are God’s.” John Quincy Adams There are mornings when a particular thought settles into the mind and refuses to leave. Not because of a conversation, a recent event, or any obvious reason. It simply arrives and demands attention. This morning, that thought was anger. As I reflected on it,… Read more »
The View from the Window
“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:4 Today I sit at my sister’s kitchen window in Idaho, looking across the fields toward the brown hills and mountains beyond. As I enjoy the peacefulness of the view before me, my thoughts… Read more »
When Conviction Is Called Hate
“What many call hate is often nothing more than a refusal to surrender conviction.” Recently, several San Francisco Giants pitchers found themselves at the center of a national controversy after choosing not to wear Pride-themed hats during a team-sponsored event because of their Christian convictions. The response from many media outlets, commentators, and social… Read more »
The Rocks We Carry
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Often attributed to Plato Last night, I received a phone call from a good friend, someone I had worked alongside for ten years. Although we had stayed in touch over the years, I realized that I had not actually seen him face… Read more »
Labels
When did we stop seeing people as individuals and start seeing them as labels? When did the first question after a crime become, “What color was the victim?” or “What color was the suspect?” instead of, “What happened?” and “Who is responsible?” When did labels become more important than truth, and identity more important than… Read more »
First Times, Last Times, and the Journey Between
As I reflect on my seventy-six years of life, I realize there are two things that stand out more than most: the first time I did something and the possibility that I may be doing something for the last time. When we are young, life is filled with firsts. The first day of school…. Read more »
Whatever Happened to Common Sense?
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill What happened to common sense in America? Common sense used to mean looking at the facts, accepting reality, taking responsibility, and applying the same standards to everyone. Today, nonsense is often treated as… Read more »
The Day Liberty Stormed the Beaches
“The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 6, 1944 Today we remember D-Day, the day when thousands of Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy and changed the course of history. Nearly 5,000 men gave their lives… Read more »
When Time Tests What I Heard
There is a unique trial that comes to those who believe they have heard from God concerning things yet to come. It is not the trial of suffering, persecution, or loss. Those trials are visible and easily recognized. The trial of time is different because it works quietly. It begins with confidence. When God first… Read more »