Daily Challenges Archive

There is a lot of hunting, searching, and seeking that leads to understanding and discovery. Knowing God is a participation sport. I love that when we first come to Christ, He gifts us with immediate grace. Of course, the greatest gift is the seal...

I’m constantly amazed at the jewelry many celebrities wear. I think it would be uncomfortable. I also wonder what kind of statement it makes. I’ve been told that, often, when a celebrity has grown up in poverty, it’s a way of showing the dramatic ...

Ever felt that way? I know I sure have—especially right after I’ve done something particularly stupid… for the hundredth time in a row. There are so many lessons I should’ve learned by this stage and age of life. I often find myself shaking my hea...

If there’s anything we know about God, it’s that He loves to show us who He is and how He operates through the model of the family. We have God the Father and God the Son. We have the prodigal son and his interactions with his father. Scripture is...

I love this truth—not necessarily the ignorance of evil people, but the understanding of what is right that comes with knowing the Lord. As a gift of new life, God sends His Spirit to indwell the believer. He becomes our filter—or maybe more accur...

The ministry I work for has this as their foundational verse. I used to think there were better verses that more specifically spoke to the area of ministry we are involved in within society. Over time, I have come to see why God chose this verse f...

I’ll be at a rodeo all day today. Three of my grandchildren are roping and riding—and generally amazing their old granddad with how well they handle a horse. Did I mention they’re 12, 7, and 6? I’ll hear some great rodeo tunes: Kenny Chesney, Geor...

I find it interesting that this verse talks about how the sender of the message, through a faithful person, is the one who is blessed and refreshed. The natural reading would seem to suggest that the hearer is the one blessed and refreshed by this...

One of the more exciting things happening in our ministry is the addition of a new national staff member. This person will join me in launching new city starts and will eventually take on the responsibility of shepherding their leaders into a full...

That sounds a bit extreme. There’s nothing wrong or evil about enjoying good food. Who created the delicious spices? Who created the science of fermentation? All the wonderful tastes and smells that come from cooking processes are gifts from our C...

I’m not a wine drinker, but I do love olive oil in the right places. I can’t imagine a good Italian meal without it. This is another of Solomon’s ways of expressing the high living of his day: “An easy way to get richer is to stop spending. It is ...

Avoiding strife is not always easy. Some people seem irresistibly drawn to it. Others seem born to instigate it. While the world sometimes calls those who avoid strife cowards, I have always seen something admirable in those who, though fully capa...