As I think back on a wonderful evening with Dave and his family, I don’t recall anyone suggesting that the government would rest on his shoulders one day. Nor do I remember anyone calling him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, or Prince of Peace.

After years of being unapproachable, you desire to convey a different message. Yet your omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence are intimidating. 

I was stunned that nothing concerning us in 2014 needed to be edited for relevance in 2016. 

Your new heart sings the same song, and dances to the same step, as your Heavenly Father’s heart does. 

That the pimp or the drug runner or the convict needed forgiveness of their sin, I had no confusion. But that I, whose independent acts from God rendered applause, accolades, and recognition needed forgiveness was not at all evident.

Who won? Who lost? Here are the four biggest losers and four biggest winners. Least to biggest in each category, unfiltered, and to the best of my ability without bias.

There is NO moral reason for you to not go to your polling place. Go vote today!

God created the pinnacle of creation perfectly, but He did not give them the ability to make clothes for themselves. Why should He?

If this circus wasn’t occurring in America, I would find it fascinating. Fascinating in the awkward way a voyeur must feel looking from the outside in. 

God came and found you when you were lost, descended into hell itself, and led you a captive of the enemy into the freedom of His resurrection life.

It is a famous verse of scripture that is mind-boggling in scope and implication.

Infatuation is like betting on the lottery. Love is like having money in the bank.

Worry is built upon a false supposition—that God is insufficient to handle your concerns.

A true enemy is someone who troubles you, who you feel threatened by—someone who can cause you harm or do you in if you let your guard down or get caught by surprise. 

I can give intellectual assent to loving myself, but the proof of my love will be in my contentment with Pres. 

Grace is the good news that God is not aloof. Grace is the encouraging declaration that He is present and engaged. Grace is the pursuit of God to encounter me face-to-face. 

"Four feet of water in the house, eight feet in Lesleigh's (daughter). Gutting the house Friday. You can stand me up at the gates of hell but I won't back down."

I entered higher education with the ability to think, but I didn’t have the skill of thinking critically. 

The heavens had portended what was to unfold with lightening more spectacular than the commemorative fireworks and thunder that drowned out the explosions. It was a gamble, but all of Tupelo and the surrounding area wagered that the weather would hold.

If no one knows the hour or the day of Christ’s return—not even Jesus Himself—it seems there might be some encouragement more concrete from our heavenly Father than wistfully praying for the second coming of Christ. I mean, what if today or tomorrow or Tuesday are not the assigned day? What then?