Some folks will study the story of Esther, or listen to a series of sermons on bravery, and catch hold of this truth: living courageously doesn’t depend on us; it depends on Him. Perhaps for the first...  Read More

How do you know what to do when life calls for a courageous decision? Wouldn’t it be great if there were a formula for bravery, a formula for making courageous decisions?  A formula where you could pl...  Read More

Although the content of Mordecai’s decree is important, let’s not miss the lessons to be learned from the manner in which Mordecai prepared and distributed his decree. Let’s look at two of those lesso...  Read More

The first decree, crafted by Haman and sealed with the king’s ring, carried the authority of the king and could not be revoked or altered. The only way to protect the Jews from the evil that Haman had...  Read More

Football is the sport of choice in our family. We’ve spent many evenings at football practice, scrimmages, and games over the last decade. One of the most often repeated instructions I’ve heard coache...  Read More

For many years, on the first day of school I would read a passage of Scripture that began with the words, “Do not be anxious.” This message is found in two of the gospels (Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:...  Read More

What do Superman, Moses, Jesus, Batman and Esther have in common?  They were all either orphaned or adopted!  Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses, Joseph adopted Jesus, and Mordecai adopted Esther.Adopti...  Read More

I made a mistake the other night. Midway through the second book in a trilogy, I read the last chapter. The cliffhanger from the first book was great, and I was simply curious. Big mistake. The cliffh...  Read More

No doubt Esther was scared to approach the king with her request. Her life was in his hands. Perhaps she simultaneously wanted to put it off and couldn’t wait for it to be over.Therefore, it is slight...  Read More

When my daughter was performing in dance recitals, I was always sure to log in the minute tickets were available online. I had to because all the best seats were taken within two minutes. Everyone wan...  Read More

One of the best-known rules of nature is that you don’t mess with a mama bear’s cubs, a goose’s goslings, or a mama’s kids. You don’t want to face a mama’s wrath. This wrath can extend to everyone in ...  Read More

In a time when so much of our culture and our news reporting choose to display hate-faces instead of hope-faces, hate-filled words instead of words of love and kindness, I want you to do something dif...  Read More

This week we’re talking about where we get our strength.The delightful family moment played out in front of me just as I turned a corner while walking in my neighborhood. A little boy, maybe five year...  Read More

This week we’re talking about where we get our strength.There are many, many sources of strength in the world of super-heroes. Superman just naturally has super-human strength (it’s right there in his...  Read More

This week we’re talking about where we get our strength.We stared at each other, steadfast and unmoving, like opponents in an old Western movie. What lay between was not ten paces, but a single Lego b...  Read More

This week we’re talking about where we get our strength.Do you know that dream where somebody, or something, is chasing you and no matter how hard you try you cannot get away? Usually in my versions o...  Read More

This week we’re talking about where we get our strength.The cheese stands aloneThe cheese stands aloneHi-ho, the derry-oThe cheese stands aloneThese lyrics come from the children’s nursery rhyme, “The...  Read More

I got the call one Friday night. My young friend asked if I would pray with her. She had just moved into a new house. She explained that she hadn’t been sleeping well. She heard all the new sounds and...  Read More