“Lord, give me character that is greater than my gifts and humility that is greater than my influence.” “The Holy Spirit is a Person whose work it is to get hold of us… not a vague power we get to hold and use… if we think of the Spirit as power, our thought will be, ‘How…

Margaret Lorraine (Warner) Madson In Loving MemoryJune 18, 1930 – March 14, 2024 Margaret Madson, 93, made her final journey home to heaven on March 14, 2024, joining her husband and my dad (Joseph Madson). Margaret was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, to Eddie and Helen Warner. She grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota.…

Last week, I shared the list of My Top 10 Books for 2023. This week, I wanted to follow it up by sharing my Top 10 ‘Honorable Mentions’ from this past year. Here’s my list: #10 Atomic Habitsby James Clear (Re-Read) I first read this outstanding book several years ago. I have since read it four…

In case you’re interested, below is a list of my Top 10 books of 2023. Enjoy! One quick reminder about the reading of books: Reading books is meant to make us think, to challenge assumptions, to deepen our faith, to grapple with issues we would normally not wrestle with. And ultimately, reading books is meant—not simply…

Here are seven of the best articles/videos I came across this week for your encouragement and enjoyment! 1) Think You Know the Christmas Story?Here are Five Common Misconceptionsby Michael Kruger “These five misconceptions remind us that sometimes our picture of scriptural stories is shaped more by popular perceptions and modern retellings than by the text…

“Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.”(Jim Elliot) “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”(Proverbs 14:30) “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.”(J.R.R Tolkien) “Jesus is looking…

“Studies have shown that… grateful people view their lives more favorably than others, have increased energy and self-confidence, and demonstrate better coping. They are more generous and optimistic, have a greater sense of purpose, have fewer medical problems, exercise more, and sleep better than their peers.…” (What Brilliant Psychologists Are Learning About Humilityby Mark R.…

“Remember, if you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” Greg Mckeown(from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less)  “It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” Greg Mckeown  “Sometimes what you don’t do is just…

Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I just received a brand-new book entitled, The Influential Mentor: How the Life and Legacy of Howard Hendricks Equipped and Inspired a Generation of Leaders by Maina Mwaura (Moody Publishers). Here are some…