The guy in front of me ordered a decaf grande sugar-free vanilla nonfat latte with extra foam and the milk heated to 140 degrees. Wow! And all I wanted was a coffee. You know, regular coffee in a cup. But then, all of a sudden, I felt totally out of my element. I looked around for a MacDonald’s … but, never mind, they too now have lattes and a wide variety of other coffee choices. It’s a whole new world out there and I realized the day of just a cup of coffee are long gone – just like I watched the passing of the $0.10 a cup – a bottomless cup with continual free refills – go the way of the dinosaurs.

So, I quickly looked at the menu to see all that they offer – (in a coffee shop – a menu) and was instantly gripped with fear as there were so many coffees to chose from – dark roast, light roast, Pike’s Peak, Breakfast blend… And, then there were the sizes to chose from. So, what ever happened to small, medium and large? Then, I could have a shot of this or that added to the coffee… I feel tired just rethinking about it. And, I was tired to start with as I was only half way home and waiting in Toronto for my flight in 5 hours.  Read more

The picture is of the youth in attendance last Sunday night in The River of Life Church in Butler, Ohio. God seriously touched lives and transformed the young people. The topic for the evening was the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues. I taught briefly and they all took notes – then prayed for a release of the power for those already Baptized in the Holy Spirit. They were then instructed on how to get someone Baptized in the Spirit and they then prayed for all those who had yet to receive the encounter. Then, those who had yet to speak in tongues were ministered to by those who do speak in tongues and many had their private prayer language released. Read more

A hurry-up father once approached future U.S. President James A. Garfield while he was still the president of a local college: “Is there any way you can get my son through this institution faster than four years?” he implored. “Time is running short, and the business world is waiting!”

“It all depends on what you want,” Garfield wisely replied. “Squash will take only three months, but if you want an oak, that requires four years.” Read more

A new year has begun and the first week is about done. Work has come back on line and so life has returned to some semblance of normal whatever that may look like in your life. In my life that means I am back on the road as I leave today for 12 days out of the city in Ohio – two different locations, many different ministry opportunities, and many people to meet in teams and one-on-one. Everyone’s normal is different but for each one it is the reality they must deal with. One is not better than another – just different. Read more

If you are growing spiritually, those you lead and those you influence (children, friends, family) will too. Your personal progress, productivity and passion matter… And, as a disciple of the Lord Jesus (see the last seven blogs) we are called to be constantly growing, adjusting, changing.

Here’s the problem as I see it… Many people who become born again simply believe that they “have arrived” and now that they are saved, safe, secure in Jesus, and sure of Heaven as a final resting place – that they have all they need and can simply go on living as they always have. The “salvation package” is simply tacked on to an already existing life with no interest in or even thought about changing and growing. This, regretfully, describes most Christians that I know – most, not all. Read more