More at LeaveTheGate.com

I love the blogspot format and interface.

If you are thinking of starting a blog, I highly recommend it.

Having said that,  you'll find a good majority of my content at www.LeaveTheGate.com

I hope you click and join me there, too.

When Your Strength Doesn’t Matter

The Philistines sought to find Samson’s strength, but their victory was assured when they exploited his weakness (Judges 16).

(click here to read more)

Yes, You Must Be Perfect. Kinda'.

The Apostle Paul penned a number of scriptures that encourage us in pursuit of perfection (Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:28; Colossians 4:12).  James had some things to say (James 1:4; James 3:2). Jesus talked about perfection, too.

(click here to read more)

Religion, the Killer

Old Testament law was given to instruct us in the need for redemption and to begin our journey back to partnership with God.  Blood became necessary.  A precious and perfect sacrifice was necessary.  It was a glorious demonstration of God's grace and His desire to redeem His creation.

But the religious leaders made it a business.  THEY were the important ones.  THEY were the holy ones.  "If you want to be close to God," they seemed to say, "you must do it through us."

(click here to read more)

Crossing Over

"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him."
Mark 4: 35-36

This is a familiar account that shows the magnificent freeing power of Jesus.  It can be read in full at Mark 4:35 - 5:20.

(click here to read more)

Lies About You

Defending one's self has become somewhat of a right.


Much of the time our words are used to create, correct, or restore our own public image.  It can be difficult to resist the temptation to defend ourselves, to explain ourselves, or to return a barb.

(click here to read more)

Demosthenes Put Rocks in His Mouth. Should You?

What does it mean to discipline one’s self?

It is an interesting relationship.
(click here to read more)

Why You Need an Ox

Around my house we like to say, “you gotta’ break a few eggs to make an omelette”.

Solomon says it much better in Proverbs 14, verse 4…

“Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.”

(click here to read more)

4 Lethal Enemies to Effective Decision-making

Whether you are contemplating an extreme course adjustment that effects the rest of your life, or you are just thinking about what to do today, you are involved in the process of decision-making. (click here to read more)

God in the Flesh

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Can you hear the intensity of Paul’s voice here?  Strong words like “pleading” and “imploring” reflect the passionate appeal of God for us to join Him in reconciling the world. (click here to read more)

Why God Won't Answer Your Prayer

I believe that there are primarily two types of prayer that we can be sure God won’t answer:  (click here to read more)

How You Can Bring Heaven to Earth

“…having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…” (Hebrews 10:19).

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Here, one Greek word, “parrhēsia”, is translated into two English words, “boldness” and “confidence“. (click here to read more)

Lend a Hand?

I read that even the most introverted person will influence an average of 10,000 people in their lifetime. (click here to read more)

Can You Hear Me Now?

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (v. 1).


The information/computer age has sounded a superabundance of facts.  The "knowledge noise" has increased exponentially...

(click here to read more)

Faith and Uncertainty

The Greatness of God in us demands our highest level of living, which means our faith progress is a vertical process.


If we consider uncertainty as a wall that restricts our progress, we can view our faith as a ladder.  In an intentional effort of our will resting on our absolute confidence in Him, we can lean our ladder of faith against uncertainty.  Without engaging uncertainty our faith lays flat. (click here to read more)

The Purpose of a Thing

Who better knows the purpose of a thing than the Very Creator of the thing?
I recently updated the RAM in my laptop. I don’t know where I found the courage, but I took off the bottom cover of my computer, yanked out a piece of plastic with a bunch of little blocky squares and dots on it, and replaced it with a piece of plastic that looked almost identical. Things seem to work better now. (click here to read more)

One Thing

The extraordinary men of our time are not men that we define by the myriad of things that they accomplish in mediocrity, but by the one or two things at which they excel. They find their One Thing and give their all for it. (Click here to read more)

The Fearlessness of Divine Trust

God, fully-aware that He had created man in an environment already occupied by his enemy, never warned Adam that the serpent was coming to deceive Eve.
Could it be that He had trusted Adam to do the right thing? (click here to read more)

How Can I...?

God’s people were suffering under a siege, of sorts.


The Midianites, Amalekites and others had Gideon and the rest of the Israelites pinned up in the mountains, their frequent and plunderous raids driving God’s people to dens, caves, and strongholds.
Reeling from generations of on-again off-again roller-coaster service and non-service to God, the Israelites cried out for deliverance. God heard their cry and sent a prophet to the people and then sent an Angel of the Lord to Gideon .  (click here to read more)

What Do These Stones Mean to You?

When Israel crossed the Jordan under Joshua’s leadership (Joshua 3) it was a significant landmark for the people of God. (click here to read more)

Team-Building

Jesus built quite a team. His disciples (and, later, Paul and others) had a variety of strengths, but shared a common goal.

Many times we see organizations develop based on “like-kindedness”, but “like-mindedness” is a better environment for success. (click here to read more)

"There is Only One Mediator!"

Yesterday I was in court as part of a civil proceeding.


The bailiff asked the court to rise as the judge entered and took her seat at the bench.  After a quick look around the courtroom at the lawyers, plaintiffs and defendants gathered to resolve disputes, she declared, “There is only one mediator!” (click here to read more)

His Power Saves You

From Romans 1, "... I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." .

I love that the Gospel is the only message we are commissioned to preach (Mark 16:15).
(click here to read more)

One Goes Free

The principle of salvation is interwoven recurrent throughout the Bible as God established, through His Word and through faithful men and women, the spiritual laws that would set us free. (click here to read more)

A Soft Answer

If we are going to offer ourselves as His ambassadors, we will get the opportunity to put His Word to the test. (click here to read more)

Win-Win

In our hyper-competitive society it seems there is a leaning towards every-day transactions becoming a battle, or at least a contest, that will result in a winner and a loser.  (click here to read more)

The Value of Trust

God trusted Adam and Eve with His plan for taking back the Earth from an enemy that was here before they were.

Genesis tells us of a five-fold mandate and confirms that man has the Divine Nature to carry it out. He is, after all, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28).

(click here to read more)

What is that in your hand?

The situation for the children of Israel was bleak. Over the course of 400 years of living in Egypt, God’s people had prospered to the extent that the king, who did not know Joseph and disregarded the way he had blessed Egypt by his interpretation of dreams and wise stewardship, was troubled by the Israelites.(click here to read more)

Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

Max Lucado does a beautiful job of tip-toeing up to our fears and dismissing them.

His winsome writing style takes the boogy man away and lets us deal simply, and in faith, with the things that seem to have such a hold on our lives, using aptly-placed real-life stories of people just like us who overcame the same obstacles we face.

I am thankful that this book came into my hands at this time and look forward to the fruits of responding in faith, not fear.

Fearless can be purchased at amazon.com and most bookstores.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this review.

The Path of the Just

To think that I could have said to my then-Toddler sons (assuming I was wise enough to know), “You are going to be such-and-such when you grow up. That’s all for now,” is an outlandish thought. (click here to read more)

No Record of Wrongs

1 Corinthians 13, often called “the love chapter”, is a favorite of many.  I encourage you to click on the link and read this short but powerful chapter. (click here to read more)

The Meaning of Easter

God established laws and principles to guide us in proper relationship with Him.  That is what He is after – the restoration of fellowship.  Violation of these laws and principles (sin) makes our relationship with Him impossible or, at best, meaningless. (click here to read more)

Risk

If we choose a life of taking few risks, we actually run the greatest risk of all – that of not fulfilling the call that God has on our lives (Matthew 25:14-30). (click here to read more)

His Overture

God is calling us, I believe, to be the most alive and fully-awake people on the planet. People who pursue our dreams, born of a destiny that He shaped when we were in our mother’s womb. (click here to read more)

Passion Points to Purpose

Joshua saw the Promised Land, but had to wait 40 years to enter.  His passion for seeing Canaan again, and the purpose that God had for him, sustained his life and he was able to see his purpose fulfilled. (click here to read more)

His Work, His Glory, Our Hands

“Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:16-17)


What a privilege to be called into His service as He establishes the work of our hands!  It is still remarkable to me that God uses us for His purposes. (click here to read more)

"Yes, But It Is Not I!"

The story is told of Augustine, after his conversion, passing a former mistress on the street.

The mistress, in an attempt to lure him, said, "Augustine! It is I!".

Augustine's response, without even stopping, was, "Yes - but it is not I!" (click here to read more)

The Forgotten Question

Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho when the cry rose from the roadside, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Blind Bartimaeus knew He was near. (click here to read the rest of this post)

On Call

Years ago, when my wife was an insurance adjuster, she would wear a pager. Remember those? (click here to read more)

What is My Duty to God?

Our family recently joined a scouting troop and is enjoying the fellowship and tremendous character-building opportunities in this time-tested organization.  (to read more, click here)

I've Got this Rebuke. What Do I Do With It?

I read on Chip MacGregor's blog recently about a saying that the Scottish have.  "Learn to unpack a rebuke."

What a beautifully simple way to express a complex thought!  (To read more of this post, click here)

When to Trust in Riches

I was reading Max Lucado's, Fearless, the other day when a practical thought of his brought clarity to a scripture with which we are all most familiar...

An Open Door

"See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it..."  Revelation 3:8

I believe we are living in a time when the greatest conquests on the earth through the power of God's Holy Spirit are before us, as the most prepared people He has ever had.

There is, I am convinced, an open door before us...

When Fear Sleeps In

When we dream (awake or asleep) we go to a place that is just beyond reality. 

It is there that God triumphs through us.

Just before awakening (or coming back to our senses) we are ushered back to our cell and fear patrols the hall, locking the gates, restricting each of us to our natural state....(click below to read more)

Your Reasonable Service

When Paul wrote to the Romans about their "reasonable service" I think it's safe to assume that he was not talking about Sunday morning at 11:00AM.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  (Romans 12:1)

Paul was talking about something much bigger than what we do around the world on Sunday mornings....

Who Is Talking About You?

Joseph needed someone to speak on his behalf as his jealous brothers conspired to kill him, an act which would rob him (and, eventually, a starving generation) of his God-favored destiny.

Reuben was that someone...

The Edge of Faith

It's inspiring to look at the "heroes" of our faith and to see the great things they accomplished, bringing glory to God and making (our shared) history.

Hebrews 11, of course, is a great place to go to get a run-down of these folks.

In reviewing the list, what do these heroes have in common?

An End to Religion

The stage was set.  The Old Testament priests had a stranglehold on the airway that breathed life into God's Covenant with His people.

"If you want to be close to God," they seemed to say, "you must do it through us."

Old Testament law was given to instruct us in the need for redemption and to begin our journey back to partnership with God.  Blood became necessary.  A precious and perfect sacrifice was necessary.

Who is Jesus for You?

A facebook and personal friend recently asked me for a favor.  She was assigned the task of asking a question of 5 people.

"Who is Jesus for you?" she asked.   What a great question!

I started to write a canned response but felt led to search my heart.

"Why This Waste?" - The Duty of Extravagance.

I love the account in several of the Gospels of the woman - a sinner - who breaks an alabaster box of  an expensive oil, anointing the head of Jesus.

The indignant disciples ask, "Why this waste?"

Jesus' response reveals both his tender awareness of the value of the gift to the woman and his consternation for the strict judgement made by His disciples.

Theology Without Meaning

There are two languages through which our theology can be spoken, and one root language.

We can speak through our actions and by our fruit (Ever notice this is singular?  One fruit, many manifestations.), but the root must be love.

With all that we know, and all that we've disciplined ourselves to practice in our evaluations of people or our behavior or our goals or our claims to what is right, if our theology - what we actually believe about God - is not communicated in our actions and with corresponding fruit in love, our theology has no meaning.

Q4U:  What can you do - today - to clearly communicate what you believe about God through your actions and by your fruit?

The Path of the Just

To think that I could have said to my sons (assuming they were old enough to understand my voice and I was wise enough to know), "You are going to be such-and-such when you grow up. That's all for now," is an outlandish thought.

The daily walk with them as we uncover, together, their talents and passions, likes and dislikes, failures and successes is, up to this point, one of the most rewarding parts of my life.

What Does Grant Desme Have to Do with You?

Maybe you don't know who Grant Desme is.  I didn't.

Apparently, he was a big-time, promising, up-and-coming baseball player who just announced he's leaving baseball to go into ministry.  So why am I writing about sports the day after I wrote about a politician?  And what does Grant Desme (or Scott Brown) have to do with you?  Or me?

What Does Scott Brown Have to Do with You?

It's an unusual blog title for me but, no matter what your political views, you can't escape the drama of this recent event.

It's newsy because it effects so many people and carries the David/Goliath underdog element.  But what if it effected less people?  How would that be different to Scott?  Or you?  I'm getting to my point...

Not to Condemn, but to Save

John 3:16 is quite possibly the best-known scripture in the Bible.  But God has hidden,  in John 3:17, a key for us in our walk as ministers of reconciliation.

Fear of Change

Sometimes we are afraid of a new thought or revelation because of the change it might require in our lives. How will this affect my family? My friendships? My career plans? My habits? My worship? My prayer life?

A Lamb in the House

We read John Chapter 1 at our family breakfast devotional this morning and my wife reminded us of something she had heard.

Book Review - Obstacles Welcome

With the threat of headlines and news stories that could cause the weak to cower, Ralph de la Vega's "Obstacles Welcome" is a worthy reminder of the possibilities that exist for those who will apply themselves and rise to the challenges that are sure to come.

The Best Teacher

I saw an article in the newspaper over the weekend about the "Teacher of the Year Award".

It caused me to ponder from whom I am being best-taught right now.

I've heard that "experience is the best teacher", and certainly I can see how that can be true. But what about examples?

The Love-Courage Connection

There seems to be for so many of us a great gap between what we dream to do and what we engage ourselves in doing.

Recognizing that focusing on "doing" is a risky endeavor to begin with because, improperly balanced, it could displace the work of grace that was done for us, I move ahead nonetheless because I think that, in our culture of political-correctness and emphasis on non-judgementalism we are more at risk of abandoning the responsibility we have of actually walking out, in obedience, the "doing" part of our relationship of faith with our Creator than we are of abandoning our reliance on His Grace.

Perhaps we lack the courage to "do".

Where does courage come from?

If we start with an understanding of how loved we are by God, we can secure our trust in Him for His plans for us. Sufficient trust is the platform from which we can act in courage (and faith), knowing that He will carry us through what He has called us to do.

When we realize His love, we establish our trust. From trust in Him, courage for our call is easy.

Well, easier.

The Word Became Flesh

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."

The pronouncement from the Apostle John (John 1:14), like many others in scripture, can become so familiar that it loses its significance.

The Word of God, part of the "Elohim" that created everything, became something else.

What else?

Some sort of angelic being with supernatural powers?

A mind-reading entity that could discern the very thoughts of men?

A healing potion that eradicated all disease?

A powerful weapon that reached into the spirit realm to annihilate all demonic influence?

No. Flesh. Like us.

And now the same spirit that inhabited the flesh of Jesus inhabits our flesh.

God chose the medium of flesh to present Himself to the world. And the same flesh that carries the supernatural powers of God to discern the thoughts of man, bring all manners of healing, and annihilate demonic influence can be the arms, hands, and mouthpiece of God to touch a lost world, manifesting His love and sharing the good news of His coming.

The Word became flesh and dwelt in Jesus. Now He dwells in us.