God is using Hal and Karen Jensen, a veteran staff couple who serve on Nav Encore staff in Honolulu, to make a real difference for Christ through their many spheres of influence. Don’t just take my word for it. Click here to see an inspirational video of this special couple, who were recently interviewed on a local TV […]
The subject of retirement naturally breeds confusion. In working with Nav Encore staff, the question of retirement comes up often—or it should come up. Retirement offers obvious benefits, but there are potential pitfalls as well. Retirement is a fairly recent phenomenon. Until the last century, either (a) you didn’t live long enough to worry about it or […]
We entered the church and walked down the hall almost at the same time. I said “Hi” and told her I hadn’t been here very long and didn’t know many people. She said, “I am new, too.” So began another relationship in my new city. I was so happy to get to know Lucy and hear […]
“Dad, how do you tell your kids that their mommy died?” My son sobbed on the phone. His children were six, four, two, and two months old. I had no answer except, “I will be there tomorrow.” I booked the earliest flight the next day to Salt Lake City. Our daughter-in-law, Maggie, had been having […]
Are God’s promises unconditional? Why do we sometimes have to do something to “collect” on His promises? In my experience, the first cousin to the tension between grace and effort (see my previous blog here) is the tension between grace and conditions. Grace is usually understood as the unmerited favor of God expressed to us out […]
There are aspects of the Christian life that are paradoxical, causing tension when we can’t resolve them. As a rule we tend to polarize what we cannot harmonize, emphasizing one over the other or promoting one and minimizing the other. Whole denominations have been built around this type of tension. Although some tension is unavoidable, […]
Years ago, I was given a large terra-cotta bowl of eight to ten different types, shapes, and colors of cacti. I was thrilled. I told myself, “My ignorance about gardening will not be a liability for these plants, they are indestructible.” I put them in the bright summer sun and forgot about them. Eventually, they […]
Recently, a close Christian friend of ours was taking a walk in the neighborhood she and her husband have lived in these past 15 plus years. This couple has a lifestyle of trusting God to use them to advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom among those without Christ. Both she and her husband have […]
Editor’s note: The following is from Sue Tell’s weekly blog at suetell.com. The beautiful fall weather in Estes Park, Colorado, provided the perfect setting for a retreat with Dr. Bryan Chapell, former president of Covenant Theological Seminary and now a senior pastor in Illinois. For two days I had the privilege of joining 23 of our […]
As I walked into the classroom for my first of three lessons, the professor was folding up a fish into a paper towel and putting it in his briefcase. Then he walked out and I was on! Though basically a captive audience, these 22 college freshmen gave me their undivided attention as I described the […]
