A few years ago Judy and I sat in our dining room with a couple that had been part of a church we had pastored. She was dying of cancer and he was taking her on her “farewell tour.” As you might imagine, it was an emotional evening.

During one of Judy’s special “you’re important to us” meals, I couldn’t help thinking about the first time we met them. They had just moved to our part of the country to get away from Southern California. Both were pretty much fed up with church, but they saw and heard things in our fellowship that encouraged them to give church one more try. I remembered the men and women who discipled them, and their eventual joy in actually being used by God.

And now, here they were, back in Southern California, sitting around our table. The church both of us had held so dear had imploded and scattered the sheep. Judy and I had moved on with our lives here at Church of the Open Door, but they seemed stuck in their “Ed and Judy” memories.

“It hasn’t been the same since you left. You’re just so special. If it weren’t for you two, we would never have come back to the Lord.”

(more…)

I’ve heard a lot of sermons and read articles about how Moses didn’t have faith when he told God he couldn’t accept the assignment to lead Israel out of Egypt.

I think Moses did the right thing.

Most Christians just charge off doing what we think we should before even considering our own capacity.

Truth is, neither Moses or the most spiritual believer of the church age can do anything without God…except mess things up.

I sure wish I would have been more “Moses-like” before I decided I could some of the things I tried to do in His name. I should have said, “No way, Lord. I’m not strong enough!” Then, just like He did with Moses, the Lord would have shown me His power and I would have avoided a lot of pain.