I think that temptation is one of the greatest arguments for the existence of God.  Survival of the fittest says that I’m trying as hard as possible to survive.  If that’s the case, then why do I do things that hurt me?  Why do I give in to temptations that cause me pain and grief and can ultimately cause me physical harm?  It just doesn’t make ... [Continue Reading]

There is a foolishness that isn’t foolishness at all.  In fact, it comes as a result of recognizing one’s place in the whole scheme of things.  For the Corinthian church, they were wise in the ways of the world, and to them that was of great value.  Paul, however, claimed that of greater value is to be a fool in the ways of the world but wise in the ways ... [Continue Reading]

Have you spent much time considering the value of prayer?  If you’re anything like me, when an averse situation arises, sometimes prayer is the last thing I turn to.  Often I talk to my friends, or seek the advice of someone older and wiser.  But prayer?  Sometimes I forget.  The challenge for us, though, is that Paul emphasized the importance ... [Continue Reading]

Have you ever heard the phrase, “a little bad leaven can ruin a whole loaf?”  We had a huge block of cheddar cheese that I bought from Costco a few months ago.  It was a great deal, but it was a whole lot of cheese.  I opened it and started working on eating it, but I couldn’t eat it fast enough.  Wouldn’t you know, it got a little moldy.  Now ... [Continue Reading]

Have you ever tried to plant something?  My wife, Kari, has an uncle who is a farmer.  One day we went out reaping the harvest of corn with him in his big farm machinery.  It was pretty fun.  I learned an important but simple lesson: if you plant corn seeds then you have corn grow.  Likewise, if you plant soybean seeds, then you’ll have ... [Continue Reading]