Do you like those renovation programs? You know the ones—there’s a run-down house in need of repair, desperate for an upgrade. The pros come in and work their transforming magic. Then comes the big reveal, and the homeowners gasp, “Ooh! Ah! Oh my God! I can’t believe it! What a beautiful place!”

I love those shows, and many others do as well. Why? Because they pull on something deep within us—a longing that points to the truth that we are made for heaven.

Several months ago I was reading the book of Ezekiel and it led to a vision. Now more recently it led to a connection with a book I am reading by James Jordan titled, The Ancient Road Rediscovered.

When I read this in Ezekiel 23:35, in the middle of the verse, "and thrust me (God) behind your back" (Tree of Life Version), it led me into a vision.

I saw myself and a great crowd of others walking behind Jesus with our faces focused on His back, looking through His heart and His eyes. …

A few weeks ago I was in a class and had to help them with an autobiography. The sticky spot was dealing with 10-12 year-olds and teaching them to understand what a turning point is in your life. For an adult it is easy: a marriage, a death, a birth, a graduation…but for kids it is harder.

We talked about Christmas, a new school year, a new teacher, a new school, a sibling being born. These are all good but never something that stands out to kids as life changing. 

Later in the class, one of the students mentioned…

My maternal grandmother was a devout Christian, but her husband became a skeptic. “Ahhh”, he’d say. “They’re a bunch of hypocrites.”

That was a long time ago. Fast forward to today, and it’s getting easier and easier to come to my grandpa’s conclusion.

Some are calling this “a season of cleansing”, as several well-known pastors have been exposed for moral failings. 

I had a dream recently where I heard God say, “What do you see?” In my dream, I saw 3 people so that is what I said. Then I heard God say, “Look again.” I looked again and all of a sudden, I could see that they were wearing protective vests–like bulletproof vests--but they were glowing and I could see their bodies through the vests. I heard God say, “Look again.” I looked more carefully and this time I realized that there were far more people present than I had seen at first. I woke up.

I sensed God saying to me that it was time to start looking in the Spirit–not just with my natural eyes. He gave me clear instructions: …

Last Sunday in my message, I stated that we often judge, grumble and complain about one another when we don’t have all the facts, or can’t see things from another’s perspective. I urged us to take the time to ask questions of one another, instead of rushing to quick judgments. 

This reminds me of a recent driving incident.

Driving to an appointment, I approached a busy intersection with a police car at the side of the road…

In recent messages Pastor Jeff and Ben Kennedy made the case against secularism. I’d like to pile on if that’s okay.

The issue is personal for me. Looking back, I believe I could have saved myself a lot of grief if I hadn’t fallen into the secular trap.

I can’t say exactly how many times people praying for me have told me to read Psalm 91. It’s at least a half dozen.

So, I would go home, open my Bible, and give it a quick read. Then I’d go about my day.

Not good enough. But I changed my pattern around this past Christmas, when I picked up that “super flu” that’s been going around this year.

One of the prayer points for our January fast was for those who were oppressed to be set free. I didn’t know it would be me!

Both Cheryl and I were ill with the flu over Christmas. We had to miss our family Christmas and also our Christmas service at CTFO. I was sick for over two weeks. I was praying, however, for the Lord to bring something good out of this, and He did!

When I was feeling discouraged and even disqualified from being effective in God's Kingdom, the Lord encouraged me with the following words:

Draw close to Me and I will resurrect you
Awaken the dreams that you had at the start
The call on your life, I will re-awaken
You’ll know this is Me by the passion in your heart…