These are the words of thousands, even millions, of us who look at the New Year and worry if we're up to the changes that we say we want to make.

Fear of change, uncertainty about opportunities, and worry about the future steal more from us than thieves ever will. There's just something about our human nature that makes us afraid. We don't want to lose what we have, so we pull back from anything that might threaten it — even “things” that might be a whole lot better. We fear the c..

“You can't teach an old dog new tricks.”

“He's old and stuck in his ways.”

“She's never going to change.”

There is an ingrained, all-too-often-proved-true, prejudice that when we get older we can't, or won't, change any more. This is despite some great examples in the Bible — like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Caleb and that's just the first six books — and some great passages of Scripture that challenge us to keep on changing to become more like Jesus:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate [or reflect] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Two of my favorite people in the Bible are old in years, but fresh and new..

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19 TNIV).

But his mother treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).

We are fascinated by stories of hidden treasure. Many of the blockbuster movies over the last several decades have revolved around this theme — the Indiana Jones movies, The Mummy movies, and more recently the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the National Treasure series.

As kids, we were fascinated with finding old things with drawers, ..

In the Bible, the following story is told only in the gospel of Matthew. It is powerful. It is unique. It is also as puzzling as it is captivating. If we let it, this story is not only beautiful but also as relevant today as the morning news.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod he..

Give thanks in all circumstances…

How?

My daughter is in Afghanistan.
I am fighting diabetes.
I have no job.
My son is doing drugs.
My child has died.
My marriage is falling apart.
I'm depressed.
My bank account is overdrawn.
I'm tired of being sick and tired.
Circumstances affect each of us differently. It is easier to say, “give thanks in all circumstances” than to actually do it. Especially, if the person saying it has never gone through troubled times.
In this case, the one saying it knew what he was talking about exactly. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus, had his moments in the suffering department.
Flogged 5 times with the Jews 39 lashes…
Beaten by Roman rods 3 times…
Betrayed by those who pretended to be friends…
Pummeled with rocks…
Many sleepless nights and missed meals…
Paul said, “And that's the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches” (1 Corinthians 11:28 MSG).
No doubt, circumstances can make life difficult ..

What's the big deal about baby Jesus and his birth?

Ah… glad you asked. I want to answer that question in two parts. The first is to center things biblically. The second and the more touching part is the story itself.

The Advent, the coming of Jesus Christ to our world, means everything for those of us who believe. The accounts in Matthew and Luke about Jesus' conception, birth, and welcome are more than quaint tales from long ago and far away. The birth of Jesus is the coming of God..

When my proofreaders see this title, they are going to want to fix that dangling participle, “beyond”! They will want to add an object to the preposition — e.g., “live beyond tomorrow” or “live beyond our children's faith” or “live beyond the present generation.” Sometimes, however, what a phrase communicates is more important than grammatical correctness. We need to live beyond… I want you to choose the object of the preposition that is right for your life!

Whatever holds us captive, we ..

Today we are decorating for Christmas. Decorating is a whole family experience. Our grandsons, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and spiritual daughter, Karen all are part of the event. As we pulled out the nativity set, I couldn't help but remember the story you are about to read. It is one of my favorite Philip Gulley stories because it reminds me why I need Jesus; not just at Christmas, but every day of the year! Blessings to you and yours during this special time of year. Let's not forget the reason for the season and the grace that brought God to the womb of Mary and our Savior to a manger in Bethlehem. —Phil Ware

My mother-in-law, Ruby, lives in southern Indiana in the town of Paoli. We spend family Christmas with her. Those good people in Paoli remember what Christmas is all about. Each year, just before Thanksgiving, Herb from the street department hauls the baby Jesus, his mommy and daddy, and an assortment of livestock and shepherds and wise men out of ..

There is something downright vicious going on out there today. Everybody is passing judgment on you. They are assigning worth to you by measuring your performance. Your boss is criticizing you. Or, if you are the boss, the board has set the date for your annual performance review. Everybody's a critic!

Okay, there is a certain legitimacy to it. People can't be carried on the payroll who don't perform. Incompetent persons in critical roles gum up the works for everybody else. Accountability is a good thing. But some things that are done in the name of evaluation and accountability are mean, hateful, and destructive.

There is such a thing as a critical spirit that perpetually leaves in its wake a bevy of wounded souls and countless damaged or destroyed relationships. Harsh criticism from people who enjoy dishing it out is like a battering ram against even the most secure, strong-willed people in the world.

Enough whining now! The issue is not to decide whether or not such ..