Happy Fourth of July! Have the fireworks started in your neighborhood yet? I’m sure we’ll hear fireworks all weekend celebrating our nation’s Declaration of Independence from Britain 249 years ago. The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:2 that we should be praying for...
For Myrna and me, during the early summer months, accepting or planning activities is often referred to as "before the campout" and "after the campout." We try not to let our calendar get too full, especially towards the end of July. Sometimes friends ask why we take responsibility for the...
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you...
In a world that constantly shifts—where values fluctuate, priorities evolve, and circumstances change—there is one truth that remains unwavering: the worth of God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet, in the busyness of life, it is easy to lose sight of this...
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of spending time with several of our Global Partners—both here in Portland and around the world. Walking with them in their communities and serving alongside them in ministry has given me a front-row seat to what it means to live out...
I turned to Jesus when I was 17 years old. I grew up calling myself Christian, been to youth groups a couple of times and had heard vague messages that never clicked. As God began calling me to Himself, I started reading the Gospel of Luke. I was finally face to face with the words of Jesus and...
Tom just wrapped up our series on sanctification, so let's look back at the four ways God shapes us into the likeness of Christ: What God has done What God allows What God is doing And what we are doing God is always working. And he invites us to respond and participate. It’s...
It is abundantly clear throughout Scripture that we, as Christ-followers, will not be exempt from trials. This biblical truth was instilled early in my faith walk. Over the years, I’ve learned many lessons through personal adversities: Trials come in various forms – physical, mental...
Relational. Intentional. Reproducible. At the end of 2024, amid leadership changes, Christmas, and general busyness, something unexpected happened: I was asked to teach a discipleship methodology—not a program or curriculum—to the staff. As I dove into the material, joining a cohort...
"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, obey the law of Christ."— Galatians 6:2 (NLT) Have you ever had a time in your life when everything seemed to be going smoothly, and then something happened that caused an unexpected "bump"? Maybe the event itself wasn’t...