These losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts lived together in fellowship at Rooms of Grace, and Jay Turner became their leader. He helped them with recovery, led them in Bible Studies, and helped them find jobs and get vehicles. Jay hosted a fellowship dinner on Thursday nights, and started doing church services on the second Saturday night of every other month. The inaugural service was August 9. We had a baptism in a horse trough, under a carport during a heavy rain.

Is it a problem for us to solve, or is it a God-problem-- like making crops grow?

Make peace with God, and with each other. Hug the ones you love, and leave no unfinished conversations...

We didn't get to see all the family and friends that I wanted to see, but we will try again the next trip.

My wife and I have been together for twenty-six years, but this is our first Thanksgiving...

I used to live in Azerbaijan, where hospitality really WAS a core cultural value. Having a Guest was a BIG DEAL...

Have you ever had an "I done goofed" moment with God? I did, just this morning! But I'll get to that in a minute...

Maybe God has made promises to you, but all you can see is the locked door? "Stop doubting and believe."

Sometimes, God answers prayers while we are just living our lives. While we are sleeping.

The Father didn't want to hear his son's excuses, or apologies. He just wanted to hold his son, overwhelmed with the joy of the homecoming.

God told his prophet Hosea to get married and have children.... So this was three pregnancies and a weaning... During this time frame-- crying babies, sleepless nights ("Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?"), it is only recorded that God spoke to his prophet on three occasions-- the birth of each child. Why? Because it was not yet his mission to be a prophet to the nations. His mission from God was TO LOVE THAT WOMAN AND BE A FATHER to their children. That was his mission... No matte

I watched a good movie today. Avatar: the Way of Water. Maybe it's not actually a good movie, but it resonated with me. I love movies, and it think this is the first movie, ever, that touched my heart as a Father...

Sometimes New Years Eve can be a lonely night, filled with self reflection, and perhaps feelings of loss. Of wondering where God is. Or if He even cares? Yet the Bible references even babies in the womb as being part of God's plan, and on His mind...

They were having an actual PHYSICAL "mountain top experience" with the risen Christ, and STILL, "some held back, not sure about worship...

"Then there was a sudden movement. A woman, an old babushka, pushed herself through the crowd to the Russian soldiers guarding the pavement and said, "Let me through." Then this bent old woman rushed across to one of the gaunt German prisoners, and everybody held their breath. What was she going to do? Slap him? Spit on him? She reached into her shawl and took out a crust of black bread, which she then pushed awkwardly into the pocket of the soldier, so exhausted that he was

I was stressing over something unimportant, and God showed me an infant perched on his father's mighty arm. His father was making a muscle, and supporting the baby behind its back with his huge hand... The infant was doing a "startle" reflex, CLINGING to his father's mighty arm for dear life, as though it was the baby's job to hang on tight enough not to fall! When really, he could have spread his hands wide, and let go. Because his father was holding him against his chest, f

As I think about it, I had definite plans for Christmas week and the following ones. But everything had to change. I survived the experience, but it was a good lesson to hold things lightly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Do you love someone? Tell them. Are you estranged from family or friends? Fix it. Do you have a dream vacation to an exotic location in the back of your mind? Book that ticket. Been engaged for years? Just marry the girl already!

This man should have beat a hasty retreat. Unclean! That's what you do when you come across a leper. You Run. Just like in The Matrix when you meet an Agent. You Run... But instead, he drew near, and ministered. What an incredible way to love a stranger. Thank you God, for this man. Who made a visible calculation to risk his life and health to be with me here. To be Jesus to me.