Last night I was reading in 1 Chronicles 21 about one of the most dramatic events in King David and Israel’s history. It’s the story of David’s rebellion, God’s wrath, and the establishment of the Temple. I’ve often alluded to this story when preaching. There are many elements that capture my imagination. There is King […]
Archive | Spiritual Formation
Distance Thoughts
Distance Thoughts by Doug Bursch You said come away, but I had one more thing. One more thing to say, one more thing to do, one more thing keeping me from you. You said come my way, but I had things to see. Things to explore, things to be, one more thing keeping you from […]
A More Permanent Kingdom
And I looked among the ashes and saw a new Kingdom rising. My heart leapt within me and I gave myself freely to the pursuit of this more permanent Kingdom. It has made all the difference in my days on earth and it shall be the joy of my eternal future.
Why I attend gatherings that don’t always meet my needs.
Yesterday my denomination called my cell phone to see how I’m doing and to determine whether or not I’m going to our annual convention. A very friendly woman asked me if I was aware of the changes that were happening at this year’s gathering. I said, “No, I’m not really aware of much of anything […]
How to Enter the Promised Land: Deuteronomy 6:16-19
Meditations on Deuteronomy 6:16-19 God, through Moses, is instructing the children of Israel how to live in the fullness of God’s covenantal promises. This is more than a list of rules, regulations, and commandments. God is giving His children instructions on how to fully experience the prosperity He desires to lavish upon them. God is […]
Sharing the Reason For Why and How We Live: Meditations on Deuteronomy 6:20-25
(v. 20) When your son asks you in times to come, “What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?” There will come a time when your children will ask you the meaning of your life? Why do you live the way you […]
Meditations on coming out of slavery into freedom (Exodus 4 and 5)
4:31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. When God speaks, we worship him. A sign we have not heard God is we refuse to worship him. Worship is the appropriate response […]
Spiritual Prosperity is Rooted in Giving God Our First and Best Fruit!
Humans have a tremendous capacity to bear fruit. Genesis shows us that God has blessed humanity with the ability to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). Although our fruitfulness and our very existence is a gift from God, we frequently serve what God creates, rather than God himself. As the Apostle Paul states in Romans […]
Making Time for Growth and God
I’m not an early riser. In fact, I’m barely a riser! I will not get up early unless an alarm clock is blaring or my kids are bouncing up and down on my stomach. Unlike most bedside clocks, children do not have a snooze button. If you ever find me up at the crack of […]
Following Jesus the Leader
Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And […]