Follow Jesus. Lead the church. Change the world.
I recently asked, Are You Honing Your Craft? The question forces you to narrow your focus and to name your craft. While there are several things I’d like to be good at, I realize I only have enough time and energy to focus on a very few number of things to develop at any given … Read more
As soon as I heard about The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, just before it was published recently, I knew it was a book that I wanted to read as soon as possible. I’m only about halfway through it, but I wanted to start blogging about it, because I know it’s going to take more … Read more
Shortly after responding to my call to ministry, I read a little book by E.M. Bounds called Power Through Prayer (originally called Preacher and Prayer). In recent years, I’ve wanted to re-read the book, as well as other books by Bounds, so I bought The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer (a collection of … Read more
This week, I’m re-reading Power Through Prayer, a small book written by E.M. Bounds in The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. This book has been influential in my life, especially in the early days of my spiritual journey. It has inspired a couple posts in the past, including It Takes 20 Years to … Read more
Almost exactly two years, at the outset of our second year here in Clearfield, I wrote a prayer in my journal. Little did I know at the time that that prayer would stick with me. I find myself going back to it every now and then. Now as we begin our fourth year here in … Read more
At West Side, we handed out prayer guides each Sunday during Lent. Here’s the final one for use during Holy Week (see the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth guides). Lenten Prayer Guide “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?” (John 12:27a) Ask God in prayer: … Read more
At West Side, we’ve been handing out prayer guides to use during Lent (see the first, second, third, and fourth guides). Lenten Prayer Guide Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my … Read more
Today at West Side, we began using the fourth Lenten Prayer Guide (check out the previous ones: first, second, third). Lenten Prayer Guide 27 … Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is … Read more
I’m catching up with the weekly prayer guides that we’re using with our weekly sermon series and small group studies at West Side during Lent. In the last two days, I’ve posted the first and second Lenten Prayer Guides (from now on, each new guide will be posted on Sundays for the remainder of Lent). … Read more
Yesterday, I posted the first Lenten Prayer Guide (I will post this week’s guide tomorrow, then each week’s guide on Sundays beginning with this coming Sunday). Lenten Prayer Guide Almighty God, your blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan. Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations. … Read more