Shake yourself from the dust and arise. Loose the bonds from your neck.
This morning, I was talking to a friend with a son who is a senior in high school. Like every senior, he’s weighing out his options: two-year versus four-year college, military, and future career. Like many seniors, he isn’t sure what to do. “He’s got time,” I said. “I’m just now doing what I want… Continue reading Advice To My Past Self
It was a cold night, and the pipes froze in your trailer. No coffee, no toilet. Even though you’re making 19,000-step days and working long before the sun rises and long after it sets, you still claw your way out of your bunk, walk through the sub-freezing temps, and hit the gym. Even though you… Continue reading Cowboy Up: The Rodeo Work Ethic
Anything that keeps you from pursuing the will of God is not just a distraction—it is an assault from Hell designed to derail your soul. Notice I did not say “keeps you from pursuing your dreams” or “keeps you from living your truth.” That’s because, despite our tendency to be self-absorbed and entitled, life isn’t… Continue reading The Great Work: Refuse to Come Down
Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. Taken by the author in 2013. The more I read Nehemiah, the more I am struck by his wise leadership. He knows what he is about, he knows the work that needs to get done, and ain’t nobody gonna stop him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And he did… Continue reading Fear the Lord, Not the Enemy: Wisdom from Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah is a manual for those living in exile to contend for the future. As God’s people, we cannot do that without his hesed. Hesed is one of those tricky Hebrew words that have no direct equivalent in English. We translate it variously as “unfailing love, loyal love, devotion, kindness, often based… Continue reading Hesed When It Doesn’t Feel Like It
I named my blog "Awake! Put on strength!" because I wanted to challenge others as I also challenged myself. For years I had been asleep, then Jesus changed my life and I started following him. The calling of my life is to know Jesus and help others know Jesus. I write to wake myself up… Continue reading The Sleeping Church
© Dario Bajurin/stock.adobe.com, and liberated from https://www.britannica.com/place/Pergamum To conquer:1: to gain or acquire by force of arms: subjugate (ex. conquer territory)2: to overcome by force of arms: vanquish (ex. conquered the enemy)3: to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition (ex. conquered the mountain)4: to overcome by mental or moral power: surmount… Continue reading To the One Who Conquers
If The Well Community Church were to receive a letter from the Lord, I believe it would resemble the one addressed to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1–7. We care deeply about sound doctrine and contending for the faith, but this sometimes leads us toward hardness rather than softness. A member once mentioned visiting… Continue reading The Ephesus Dilemma: Fighting Well Without Losing Love
“Armageddon” by Joseph Paul Pettitt (1812–1882), York Art Gallery. I used to be terrified of zombies. I grew up with the modern resurgence of zombie disaster movies, from Resident Evil and Dawn of the Dead (the 2004 remake turns 20 this year, by the way) to World War Z and The Walking Dead. Most of… Continue reading Revealing Jesus
The U.S. birthrate is not only declining but is at a record low. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the birthrate of 1.66 children per woman is the lowest on record since tracking began in 1979. The Wall Street Journal points to factors such as men and women delaying having… Continue reading Legacy That Lasts
Awake! Put on strength! 