2020 Vision
As we launch into a new year and a new decade, the Lord offers vision correction to help us see from his perspective....
Keep Reading 2020 Vision
As we launch into a new year and a new decade, the Lord offers vision correction to help us see from his perspective....
More Than!
God's grace is more than amazing, more than beautiful, and more than sufficient to accomplish all the good God intends to bring into our lives. It's much, much more than you realised....
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
This beautiful and familiar hymn by Charles Wesley, amended by George Whitefield, is packed with solid truth to enrich our understanding of Christmas....
The Seed of the Kingdom
God's kingdom grows in our lives as his word takes root and bears fruit....
Hearing Light and Seeing Sound
Jesus uses the metaphor of light explain the impact in our lives of hearing God's word well...
Making It - to the Other Side
Jesus doesn't leave us alone, and he doesn't leave us where we are. He has purpose, destiny, and intention for our lives, but to get there, we have to go through storms....
Barriers and Breakthrough
God invites us to breakthrough the barriers that prevent us from experiencing all the blessing he has for us....
A Cost/Benefit Analysis of Following Jesus
Evaluting the price Jesus asks us to pay in light of the promised pay out....
Up and Down
An up and down emotional life can be unhealthy, but there is a kind of up and down rhythm to following Jesus important for living life well....
The Hard Work of Waiting
God's promises are worth waiting for, but waiting can be hard work. Keeping our eye on the prize makes it easier....
Let Loving Hearts Enthrone Him
If we can recognise the identity of the baby born in Bethlehem, we can be rightly aligned to God by enthroning Jesus as our Lord and King....
Great Faith for a Great Future
Like God's people giving thanks for deliverance from Egypt and turning to enter the promised land, we celebrate what God has done but extend our faith for the future God has for us....
Now or Later
Jesus inducts his followers into apprenticeship by teaching them to live with eternal perspective....
Mirror Image
Jesus invites us to invite the ways of the kingdom as we represent God to the world....
Boomerang
Jesus invites us to a beautiful life by understanding the power of reciprocity: what we throw at others comes back to hit us on the head....
Faulty Towers
Jesus teaches us how to build strong lives that, like well-built structures, don't collapse when storms rage against them....
Commendation
We all like being praised for our accomplishments; Jesus offers us a unique kind of commendation....
Don't Just Sit There ... Respond!
It is impossible to have a neutral attitude towards Jesus: either we remain the managing director of our own life, or we recognise him for who he is, and submit to him - the King of kings and the Lord of lords....
Rocket Fuel
In giving us a mission to go to the ends of the earth with the gospel, Jesus hasn't left us alone: the Holy Spirit empowers us to complete the Father's mission....
The Greatest Gift
In a world marked by pain and suffering, God has given us the greatest gift; in Christ, God answers our most fundamental issue....
The Finding Father
God is a father who loves us enough to search until he finds us. And when he finds us, he throws a really big party....
A Different Kind of Party
It may come as a surprise, but Jesus made a point of going to parties. We may think of Jesus as an emaciated desert wanderer who spoke in chapter and verse, but in truth, he was the hot ticket item in the Galilee social scene. This meant he got party invitations, but when he showed up, it was a party with a difference....
Desperation and Desire
When we are willing to trade our dignity for desperation to experience all God has for us, good things happen....
Mission Clarity
To hit the target, we need to know the target. If we listen to Jesus, he's crystal clear on what that target is....
His Story, Your Destiny
When we believe the story of His Son we step into the destiny God created for us....
First Words
When Jesus finally speaks in Luke's gospel, his first words teach us about his identity....
Ready or Not
We can run, but we can't hide; we will all have an encounter with God, and he invites us to get ready....
Worthy of it all
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem drew praise from his disciples and reminds us that He is worthy of all the praise we can give him...
The Mission of Easter
The resurrection of Jesus marks the launch of his mission to the world. ...
Future Proof
By building our lives on the promises of God we are positioned for the future - whatever it brings....
Away In A Manger
The manger of Jesus' birth illustrates the extremes God went to for our salvation: He identified with our poverty that we might share his glory....
The Ultimate Baby Dedication
Word's spoken by John's father at his dedication give us insight into an amazing destiny - both his and ours...
The Fellowship of Faith
The fellowship of faith sparks songs of faith that empower a life of faith....
School of Ministry Update
We are touching the nations of Europe with the gospel through equipping leaders at our school of ministry....
Nothing is Impossible
Jesus teaches us that 'all things are possible for him who believes'; the circumstances surrounding his birth illustrate this...
Personal Destiny and Big Picture Purposes
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both faithful and fruitless; God fulfilled their personal dreams for his big picture purposes....
Certain Confidence in a Trustworthy God
We live in an age in which skepticism is applauded; the Lord invites us to trust him fully....
Great Faith when we can't see the way
From Abraham we learn that we can trust God even when we don't know how things are going to turn out....
Walking With God
How do we walk with God on a daily basis? Lessons from Adam, Enoch, and Jesus help us enjoy the Lord in the mundane details of life....
Against the Flow
The life of faith is not just floating downstream, it is a swim of destiny against a cultural flow perpetually pushing against us. But it's worth it....
No Roots
Abraham's life was rooted in God's promise even when we lived as man without roots; by inhabiting God's promises, our lives become marked with the substance of eternity....
The Others
Faith and faithfulness in following Jesus produces more than victorious outcomes, it also sustains us victoriously through moments of darkness and challenging circumstances....
Keeping Confidence in Tough Times
By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can endure the difficulties of life and thrive in faith....
Great Expectations 2019
God invites us to extend faith to experience his presence and walk in his purposes in 2019....
A Gift for the Ages
God in Christ gave a gift that not only answered the need of those alive when he was born, but a gift that had been promised many centuries before, a gift we need today more than ever before....
Matthew's Christmas Maths
Mathew's introduction to the Christmas story makes one big point: it all adds up to Christ....
Four Amazing Women
Matthew intentionally places women in the genealogy of Jesus to highlight the fact that everyone is invited to God's BIG BIG Party....
Immanuel: God With US
God has always been with his people; in Christ, God is with us in a unique, personal way....
Get it Done
The Lord uses the proactive participation of his people to build his purposes on planet earth....
Refreshed in God's Company
Our Lord promises to restore our souls with green pastures and still waters: He also refreshes us with his people....
The Power of Prophetic Encouragement
Few forces are as powerful for the human soul as encouragement. We need encouragement because we are highly susceptible to discouragement. How can we win the battle over discouragement?...
Friendship with God
What does it mean to be a friend of God? Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave us in the dark; he explains in clear detail all that's involved in friendship with him....
For Such A Time As This
Do you ever feel like you're caught up in circumstances way too big for you? That's when we need to remember that God has wrapped our lives with purpose and destiny....
Renewing the Mind
How does our thought life determine our destiny? How do we live faithfully as God's people in a society whose reality excludes his relevance? Daniel's example in Babylon teaches us how to think correctly and live faithfully in a society increasingly out of step with God's Word....
The Fourth Man in the Fire
When we walk through fiery tests and trials, we're not alone - the Lord is right there with us....
How's It Going To End?
As we look at the world without and the world within, we often have the feeling that things are not as they should be. The good news is that God promises to fix it all, abolish evil, and establish righteousness....
Championship Teams
God builds us together into a championship team to fulfil his purpose on the earth today....
Prosperity with God's People
God wants you to prosper. But what does that look like? What does it take? The Lord invites us to a life of flourishing, planted in his house with his people...
Small Beginnings
God excels in accomplishing big things from small beginnings. What began with a tiny outreach in L'viv is now bearing fruit all over Europe....
I Will Pour Out My Spirit
God's promise to Joel that he would pour out his Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in powerful way....
Peace and Pursuing
What would it look like to be filled with an abundance of peace? Jesus invites us to live anxiety-free lives while pursuing the kingdom of God....
Talent ... on loan from God
We all have something, and if we use what we've got, we feel fulfilled, but more importantly, the kingdom of God advances....
We'll win on Sunday. I guarantee it.
It's one thing to guarantee a victory in football. It's another thing to guarantee a resurrection. ...
The Cave of Your Calling
Kings 17 and 18 tells the story of Elijah's confrontation with Ahab. When Elijah announced, 'it's not going to rain until I say so, he wasn't simply making weather predictions; he was asserting God's authority, declaring that God is really God, and reminding the Israelites that wannabe-false-pretender-not really god they were worshipping wasn't. Elijah's victory, however, left him open to a threat....
A House For God's Greatness
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and saw his house, she thought, 'Solomon's great!' When people encounter us, we want them to think, 'God's great!'...
Christmas with Paul, David, and Matthew
The gratitude of Thanksgiving quickly turns to the anticipation of Christmas; as we approach the celebration of the Incarnation, deep appreciation for God’s incredible mercy fills our hearts. I have been reflecting on the introduction to the Christmas story in Matthew, with Acts, and 2nd Samuel informing this text....
Not A Watchmaker
In one of her biggest hit songs, Bette Midler sings that God is watching us from a distance. It's a beautiful song, except that it's not true. God's not watching from a distance; he is personally engaged in the details of our lives....
Transfigured On Purpose
By unveiling the glory of Jesus, the Father got the attention of the disciples so they would listen to him....
Eagles and Turkeys
God seats us in Christ in the heavenly places, but we often forget who we are and spend our time pecking around with an earth-based perspective....
More Than!
God's grace is more than amazing, more than beautiful, and more than sufficient to accomplish all the good God intends to bring into our lives. It's much, much more than you realised....
Keep ReadingHark! The Herald Angels Sing.
This beautiful and familiar hymn by Charles Wesley, amended by George Whitefield, is packed with solid truth to enrich our understanding of Christmas....
Keep ReadingHearing Light and Seeing Sound
Jesus uses the metaphor of light explain the impact in our lives of hearing God's word well...
Keep ReadingMaking It - to the Other Side
Jesus doesn't leave us alone, and he doesn't leave us where we are. He has purpose, destiny, and intention for our lives, but to get there, we have to go through storms....
Keep ReadingBarriers and Breakthrough
God invites us to breakthrough the barriers that prevent us from experiencing all the blessing he has for us....
Keep ReadingUp and Down
An up and down emotional life can be unhealthy, but there is a kind of up and down rhythm to following Jesus important for living life well....
Keep ReadingThe Hard Work of Waiting
God's promises are worth waiting for, but waiting can be hard work. Keeping our eye on the prize makes it easier....
Keep ReadingLet Loving Hearts Enthrone Him
If we can recognise the identity of the baby born in Bethlehem, we can be rightly aligned to God by enthroning Jesus as our Lord and King....
Keep ReadingGreat Faith for a Great Future
Like God's people giving thanks for deliverance from Egypt and turning to enter the promised land, we celebrate what God has done but extend our faith for the future God has for us....
Keep ReadingNow or Later
Jesus inducts his followers into apprenticeship by teaching them to live with eternal perspective....
Keep ReadingMirror Image
Jesus invites us to invite the ways of the kingdom as we represent God to the world....
Keep ReadingBoomerang
Jesus invites us to a beautiful life by understanding the power of reciprocity: what we throw at others comes back to hit us on the head....
Keep ReadingFaulty Towers
Jesus teaches us how to build strong lives that, like well-built structures, don't collapse when storms rage against them....
Keep ReadingCommendation
We all like being praised for our accomplishments; Jesus offers us a unique kind of commendation....
Keep ReadingDon't Just Sit There ... Respond!
It is impossible to have a neutral attitude towards Jesus: either we remain the managing director of our own life, or we recognise him for who he is, and submit to him - the King of kings and the Lord of lords....
Keep ReadingRocket Fuel
In giving us a mission to go to the ends of the earth with the gospel, Jesus hasn't left us alone: the Holy Spirit empowers us to complete the Father's mission....
Keep ReadingThe Greatest Gift
In a world marked by pain and suffering, God has given us the greatest gift; in Christ, God answers our most fundamental issue....
Keep ReadingThe Finding Father
God is a father who loves us enough to search until he finds us. And when he finds us, he throws a really big party....
Keep ReadingA Different Kind of Party
It may come as a surprise, but Jesus made a point of going to parties. We may think of Jesus as an emaciated desert wanderer who spoke in chapter and verse, but in truth, he was the hot ticket item in the Galilee social scene. This meant he got party invitations, but when he showed up, it was a party with a difference....
Keep ReadingMission Clarity
To hit the target, we need to know the target. If we listen to Jesus, he's crystal clear on what that target is....
Keep ReadingFirst Words
When Jesus finally speaks in Luke's gospel, his first words teach us about his identity....
Keep ReadingReady or Not
We can run, but we can't hide; we will all have an encounter with God, and he invites us to get ready....
Keep ReadingWorthy of it all
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem drew praise from his disciples and reminds us that He is worthy of all the praise we can give him...
Keep ReadingFuture Proof
By building our lives on the promises of God we are positioned for the future - whatever it brings....
Keep ReadingAway In A Manger
The manger of Jesus' birth illustrates the extremes God went to for our salvation: He identified with our poverty that we might share his glory....
Keep ReadingThe Ultimate Baby Dedication
Word's spoken by John's father at his dedication give us insight into an amazing destiny - both his and ours...
Keep ReadingNothing is Impossible
Jesus teaches us that 'all things are possible for him who believes'; the circumstances surrounding his birth illustrate this...
Keep ReadingPersonal Destiny and Big Picture Purposes
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both faithful and fruitless; God fulfilled their personal dreams for his big picture purposes....
Keep ReadingCertain Confidence in a Trustworthy God
We live in an age in which skepticism is applauded; the Lord invites us to trust him fully....
Keep ReadingGreat Faith when we can't see the way
From Abraham we learn that we can trust God even when we don't know how things are going to turn out....
Keep ReadingWalking With God
How do we walk with God on a daily basis? Lessons from Adam, Enoch, and Jesus help us enjoy the Lord in the mundane details of life....
Keep ReadingAgainst the Flow
The life of faith is not just floating downstream, it is a swim of destiny against a cultural flow perpetually pushing against us. But it's worth it....
Keep ReadingNo Roots
Abraham's life was rooted in God's promise even when we lived as man without roots; by inhabiting God's promises, our lives become marked with the substance of eternity....
Keep ReadingThe Others
Faith and faithfulness in following Jesus produces more than victorious outcomes, it also sustains us victoriously through moments of darkness and challenging circumstances....
Keep ReadingFour Visionary Statements of Jesus
In Revelation 21:1-4, we read about God's ultimate vision for the universe: there will be new heaven, a new earth, and most beautifully, death will be abolished. That is, Christ will destroy all the destruction unleashed by Adam and Eve. It is the plan, the mission of Jesus to accomplish a full restoration of reality to God's original intention. A vision is a statement of...
Keep ReadingKeeping Confidence in Tough Times
By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can endure the difficulties of life and thrive in faith....
Keep ReadingGreat Expectations 2019
God invites us to extend faith to experience his presence and walk in his purposes in 2019....
Keep ReadingA Gift for the Ages
God in Christ gave a gift that not only answered the need of those alive when he was born, but a gift that had been promised many centuries before, a gift we need today more than ever before....
Keep ReadingMatthew's Christmas Maths
Mathew's introduction to the Christmas story makes one big point: it all adds up to Christ....
Keep ReadingFour Amazing Women
Matthew intentionally places women in the genealogy of Jesus to highlight the fact that everyone is invited to God's BIG BIG Party....
Keep ReadingImmanuel: God With US
God has always been with his people; in Christ, God is with us in a unique, personal way....
Keep ReadingGet it Done
The Lord uses the proactive participation of his people to build his purposes on planet earth....
Keep ReadingRefreshed in God's Company
Our Lord promises to restore our souls with green pastures and still waters: He also refreshes us with his people....
Keep ReadingThe Power of Prophetic Encouragement
Few forces are as powerful for the human soul as encouragement. We need encouragement because we are highly susceptible to discouragement. How can we win the battle over discouragement?...
Keep ReadingFriendship with God
What does it mean to be a friend of God? Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave us in the dark; he explains in clear detail all that's involved in friendship with him....
Keep ReadingFor Such A Time As This
Do you ever feel like you're caught up in circumstances way too big for you? That's when we need to remember that God has wrapped our lives with purpose and destiny....
Keep ReadingRenewing the Mind
How does our thought life determine our destiny? How do we live faithfully as God's people in a society whose reality excludes his relevance? Daniel's example in Babylon teaches us how to think correctly and live faithfully in a society increasingly out of step with God's Word....
Keep ReadingThe Fourth Man in the Fire
When we walk through fiery tests and trials, we're not alone - the Lord is right there with us....
Keep ReadingHow's It Going To End?
As we look at the world without and the world within, we often have the feeling that things are not as they should be. The good news is that God promises to fix it all, abolish evil, and establish righteousness....
Keep ReadingChampionship Teams
God builds us together into a championship team to fulfil his purpose on the earth today....
Keep ReadingProsperity with God's People
God wants you to prosper. But what does that look like? What does it take? The Lord invites us to a life of flourishing, planted in his house with his people...
Keep ReadingSmall Beginnings
God excels in accomplishing big things from small beginnings. What began with a tiny outreach in L'viv is now bearing fruit all over Europe....
Keep ReadingI Will Pour Out My Spirit
God's promise to Joel that he would pour out his Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in powerful way....
Keep ReadingPeace and Pursuing
What would it look like to be filled with an abundance of peace? Jesus invites us to live anxiety-free lives while pursuing the kingdom of God....
Keep ReadingTalent ... on loan from God
We all have something, and if we use what we've got, we feel fulfilled, but more importantly, the kingdom of God advances....
Keep ReadingThe Diversity of Israel
CBU just had an amazing 10 days of Bible study and spiritual refreshment in Israel. If we are wiling to leave the tourist trail, we discover that Israel is not a monolithic bloc of orthodox Jews but a diverse nation in need of spiritual awakening....
Keep ReadingWe'll win on Sunday. I guarantee it.
It's one thing to guarantee a victory in football. It's another thing to guarantee a resurrection. ...
Keep ReadingThe Cave of Your Calling
Kings 17 and 18 tells the story of Elijah's confrontation with Ahab. When Elijah announced, 'it's not going to rain until I say so, he wasn't simply making weather predictions; he was asserting God's authority, declaring that God is really God, and reminding the Israelites that wannabe-false-pretender-not really god they were worshipping wasn't. Elijah's victory, however,...
Keep ReadingA House For God's Greatness
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and saw his house, she thought, 'Solomon's great!' When people encounter us, we want them to think, 'God's great!'...
Keep ReadingChristmas with Paul, David, and Matthew
The gratitude of Thanksgiving quickly turns to the anticipation of Christmas; as we approach the celebration of the Incarnation, deep appreciation for God’s incredible mercy fills our hearts. I have been reflecting on the introduction to the Christmas story in Matthew, with Acts, and 2nd Samuel informing this text....
Keep ReadingChristmas Maths
Mathew's introduction to the Christmas story makes one big point: it all adds up to Christ....
Keep ReadingNot A Watchmaker
In one of her biggest hit songs, Bette Midler sings that God is watching us from a distance. It's a beautiful song, except that it's not true. God's not watching from a distance; he is personally engaged in the details of our lives....
Keep ReadingTranscending Time
As the nights grow from cool to cold we bask in the glory of our great God. I'm so excited about what the Lord is doing with and through CBU, and I am so encouraged by our partnership together. We just had an amazing time together at our November Gathering in Ridgecrest; when we get together, we generate a world-changing faith. For those of you missed our November Gatherin...
Keep ReadingBack To Basics
Faithfully following Jesus means faithfully passing on to others what he has entrusted to us....
Keep ReadingTransfigured On Purpose
By unveiling the glory of Jesus, the Father got the attention of the disciples so they would listen to him....
Keep ReadingEagles and Turkeys
God seats us in Christ in the heavenly places, but we often forget who we are and spend our time pecking around with an earth-based perspective....
Keep Reading
Following Jesus
Someone exploring the Christian faith recently asked me: 'What does it mean to follow Jesus - practically - on a day to day basis?' That's a great question - and here's my answer....
Keep ReadingHarvest Time
Jesus is continually inviting us to partner with Him in the Father's harvest, even when it doesn't seem like it is the opportune time....
Keep ReadingStrength and Courage
Have you ever faced a moment of genuine intimidation? Have you ever been gripped with fear to the degree that you were paralysed - unable to move? This is what Joshua felt as he stood at the threshold of his moment of destiny....
Keep ReadingReflections on my daughter's wedding
Weddings happen all over the world, every day. But it's not every day that my own daughter gets married. We just returned from Nagoya, Japan, where my oldest daughter Julia married Kazuyoshi Matsumoto. Here's the story behind the story, followed by some reflections from a fatherly perspective. ...
Keep ReadingThe Mission of Easter
It’s that time of year when we get to hit the pause button from everything else going on ...
Keep ReadingMinistry Update: Busy But Blessed
A common response to the question, 'How's it going?' is 'Busy!'. And while it's true that we can be too busy, I often respond by saying, 'Better busy than bored!'. And while that's also true, there is something that's even better than being busy - and that is being blessed. In reflecting on what we've been up to, we've been busy ... but we're blessed!...
Keep ReadingLike a Mighty Rushing Wind
The active presence of the Holy Spirit is not something God intended to be limited to the early church; this is also our inheritance in Christ....
Keep ReadingReading the Koran in Church
Recently an episode in Scotland reminded us about the need to be clear: there is only one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
Keep ReadingUkraine Update
Who pastors the pastors? I was recently meeting with our pastors in Ukraine, encouraging them in their rewarding but demanding task of gospel ministry in Ukraine....
Keep ReadingBack to the Future
As great as the past was, God is calling us forward to the future. But the future God has for us is rooted in what he has already done as described in the Bible....
Keep ReadingLooking Back and Looking Ahead
Imagine a generous husband who gets a big bonus and decides to buy his wife a diamond ring for Christmas. It comes in small package, and when she opens it, she admires it, thanks him, but then sets it to the side. In the midst of all the Christmas-day chaos, the small but valuable diamond ring gets knocked off the end table, covered in Christmas paper, and lost. ...
Keep ReadingFaith for the New Year
As we prepare to enter the New Year, our focus on being faithful with the gospel is more important than ever. I was recently chatting with my dad about the impact CBU has had over the decades since our first conference in 1974. Thousands have been touched, but it has been for a purpose. ...
Keep ReadingMy Perspective on the Presidential Election
Our nation is still processing the results of the recent election. As Christians, it is important to allow the Bible to frame not only how we think about this election, but how we position ourselves in a nation that desperately needs healing. For believers, the mission of God has to be the over-riding concern that governs our lives. ...
Keep ReadingNavigating Transitional Times
We live in turbulent times of significant transition. How do we navigate these moments?...
Keep ReadingA Series of Fortunate Events
Sometimes a small seed planted grows into something big - and grows into unexpected places....
Keep ReadingCrossing The Jordan
Every generation has the 'cross the Jordan' to enter the place, purpose, and provision God has for it....
Keep ReadingRestoration
Restoration is a hard thing to believe. Can the future be better than the past? That's what God's people in Jerusalem were wondering. ...
Keep ReadingSurviving The Storms
How do we navigate the storms that hit us as we follow Jesus? Several stories in the Bible point us in the right direction....
Keep ReadingWalking With the Father
What does maturity look like? How do we grow up in Christ? There are a few power verses that give us an answer. ...
Keep ReadingPentecostal Power
God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to make us effective witnesses. The compelling story of Ivan Vornaev show's God's power in action. ...
Keep ReadingA Power Paradigm
The Book of Acts describes an Apostolic Paradigm for Gospel Progress. We need the Power of the Holy Spirit - And More....
Keep ReadingThe Wisdom of Seeking God
A Power Promise: Enjoy the reward of Seeking God in 2012...
Keep ReadingThe Best Is Yet To Come
As we start a new year, we start with the faith that God has great things in store for us....
Keep Reading