Bringing Scripture to Life

This is a book about an emerging generation of Christian leaders, called “The Younger Evangelicals,” who are ministering to the “New World” of post-modernity with great success, by reverting back to the practices of Christian community and service from the past (e.g. Wesleyan movement, 16 th century Reformers, and the ancient past of the first three centuries of the church). Webber implies that the “modern-church” of the 20 th Century has become irrelevant to the culture it now finds itself in, and more focused on gaining, “control, power, and certainty,” with how it has always done things, believed things, and taught things. Webber believes that rather than attempting to reach the culture they now find themselves in, by focusing on “love, stewardship, and faith” that glorifies God in this world, they have pulled the drawbridge up, and have refused to dialogue, unless the culture they are dialoguing with is in agreement with their particular dogmas.   Webber state...

The theme of this book is the “Dark Side” of leadership. It looks at the paradox between the traits we all have that drive us to succeed as leaders, and how these same traits that help us succeed, are also the traits that can potentially bring out the dark side of us, causing our downfall and possible ruin.  The issue is that every leader has a dark side within them that can ultimately destroy their life if they do not learn to recognize it and control it. This book will help its reader accomplish three things. First, it will help the reader gain an understanding of what the dark side is. Second, it will assist the reader on how to discern where the dark side is hidden within them. And third, it will give the reader some specific steps for overcoming the dark side that is lurking in their life before it blindsides them. The authors of this book present their ideas in an easy to follow format that make for an easy read. They do a superb job in reemphasizing their ma...

The book is designed to help identify the patterns, processes, and principles of a person’s life that God uses to develop a leader. The author does this by dividing the life of the leader up into six stages of leadership development. These six stages are surrounded by certain checks and balances to be used as markers for each leader’s life to help clarify where they are within the process. Many people do not understand how to decipher God’s purpose for their life, nor the means by which God has brought them to where they are currently at, or where He is preparing to take them. This book teaches the reader how to recognize the lessons of their lives, and the leadership stage that they are currently at in their lives. The author states, “God develops a leader over a lifetime” and that “All leaders can point to critical incidents in their lives where God taught them something very important” (p.25). By developing awareness of the six stages of leadership growth, the check...

I have been meditating upon and singing the song One Thing Remains quite a bit lately. As you probably know, the chorus to this song goes like this,  "Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.  Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.  Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me. On and on and on and on it goes, it overwhelms and satisfies my  soul, and I never, ever, have to be afraid, one thing remains..."  What a powerful and unchanging truth these lyrics reveal about our God! His love NEVER fails, and it NEVER gives up, and it NEVER runs out on anyone who places their faith in Jesus.  In fact, this is exactly what Paul was trying to get across in the book of Romans chapter eight. In Romans 8:38-39 Pauls affirms, "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries abo...

  One of the doctrines that Mormonism teaches is known as pre-existence. Pre-existence is the belief that humanity started out in heaven as spirit-beings prior to being born in the flesh, chose God’s plan of salvation, which according to their doctrine, meant taking the opportunity to live righteously on earth, in order to “become like” God the Father. In LDS’ Journal of Discourse, founder Joseph Smith claims, “We were first begotten as spirit babies in heaven and then born naturally on earth” (Journal of Discourse, Vol. 4, p. 218). In a pamphlet handed out at the temple on BYU Campus, this belief is further defined by saying, “ Life for you did not begin here on earth. You lived before you were born (how does one live before they are born?), you will live on in the spirit world after your mortal life is ended... We all once lived in the presence of God the eternal father... With this divine parentage, your destiny, through righteous living, is to become like your Fath...

In Jeremiah 31:13, the Lord says, "For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow." There is no better description I can give you when it comes to this day in my families history. This day has represented a day of great sorrow, and has been an instrument for many nights of mourning for my wife Lyndsey and me. You see, it was on October 26, 2001 when doctors gave us some devastating news. They told us that we would NEVER EVER be able to have our own biological children.  This news literally crushed us, and brought great sorrow upon our hearts and lives. This news would make the next 10 years of our life a challenging roller coaster of emotional ups and downs. Every mothers day, fathers day, every time it turned October 26th, and countless other scenarios have always tried to steal the joy of the Lord from us, and overwhelm us with sorrow.  But today on October 26, 2012, the Lord has truly turned our mourning ...

Happy 1st Birthday Jeremiah! I am so blessed to be your daddy and so proud of you.  Thank you so much for teaching me so many deep and profound truths this year of how my Heavenly Father loves me and is for me, and will never leave me or forsake me (Isaiah 41:10). I know this more than ever before, because of my relationship with you son. Thank you for showing me in such a sweet way of how God's plan for me is good, and will make sure that His plan is fulfilled in my life (Philippians 1:6). I know this more than ever before, because of how I feel about your future son. It is my greatest desire to patiently guide you in the ways of the Lord, to purposefully capture moments everywhere I can, in order to teach you deeper truths about Jesus' love and plan for you. I hope that I can give you a clear picture of what a loving husband and father look like, so that you can in turn become a loving husband and father also. I hope that through my relationship with Je...

The dictionary defines the word giant, as "A person or thing of great size, extraordinary power, significance, or importance." How many of us can look back over the course of time and identify the many giants that have been placed before us? Whether it be giant steps of faith we were called to take, giant obstacles testing our obedience to God, or giant disappointments from apparent failures in life, each of us have had to face our giants before. As I look back upon the giants God has called me to face in life, I realize now that I have experienced some GIANT victories in those times that I did courageously take big steps of faith for God. In fact, it was in those times when I was obedient to what God was calling me to do that help define me today as a follower of Christ, as well as hopefully leave an example for my family and friends, and a legacy for my son to follow after. At the same time, each and every time I have shrunk from the challenge of facing the giants t...

What mountain is standing before you today? Is it a mountain of doubt, or is it a mountain that is increasing your faith? Are you having difficulty trusting that God will come through in a certain area of your life today? Are you struggling to believe that God has heard your prayers, that He knows the desires of your heart, and that God is able to provide for you? Do you feel as if there are insurmountable obstacles that stand before you and the promises that you believe God has spoken into your life? I can imagine that the day God tapped on Abraham’s shoulder and told him to take a walk with his son Isaac to Mount Moriah, and then gave him the purpose for their journey (), that Abraham must have been rocked to the core of his being as he processed through what God had asked of him. The Bible doesn’t reveal to us what was going on in this loving father’s heart as he was travelling with the son in whom he treasured so much. However, I can imagine that there was a terribly fierce w...

"Never dread any consequence resulting from absolute obedience to His command. Never fear the rough waters ahead, which though their proud contempt impede your progress. God is greater than the roar of raging water and the mighty waves of the sea. "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever" (Ps. 29:10). A storm is simply the hem of His robe, the sign of His coming, and the evidence of His presence. Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom." - F.B. Meyer

You can now listen to the message Are you a Radical Example .

This book is about the life of three kings whose story is told in such a way that leaves its reader constantly asking which king he best resembles. King Saul is a mad leader who attempts murder in order to keep his kingdom, while King Absalom is a young man who will deceive, and dishonor his father and king in order to rule the kingdom of his desire. King David, who is placed between both King Saul and his son Absalom, is a godly example of a man who must endure trials, suffering, and utter brokenness before God, in order to be a leader fit for God’s use and glory. The author is trying to show that there have been many people who have been hurt by Christian leaders who are of the order of King Saul – those who throw spears at anyone who gets in their way – rather than taking the godly road less traveled, which is the road of brokenness. The author contrasts these leaders with the life of King David in order to make a point that God is the one who is in control of who leads H...

After visiting America in 1831, French writer Alexis de Tocqueville said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests—and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning—and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!” When reading Alexis de Tocqueville's view of America, we can understand why Scripture says in  Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." and in  Proverbs 14:34 the Bible tells us, "Righteousness EXALTS a nation, but sin...

We live in a gotta have it now society that has programmed us to live life in a hurry-up and rush mode, where we expect and obtain things immediately, right here and right now. This fast-paced reality makes it very difficult for us to have a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Gotta have it Now! from Jason Stewart on Vimeo .

Do you have a big BUT? Or do you possibly know someone who has a big BUT? If so, forward this to them.

This is a poem I wrote back in 2009 as I was meditating upon the events that took place on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday so many years ago. The Passion On the darkest of nights where one life dwells I found in a Garden him fighting with Hell There was sweat filled with blood and prayers full of grief Agony, suffering pleading for relief But no one would listen not Father, nor friends When the traitor came it was surely the end He was exposed by a kiss which was part of the plan Horrific suffering and wrath as death drew near to this Man His friends forsook Him His family fled Abandoned by all He would soon be dead He was spit upon, and mocked beaten and flogged He was given a cross and commanded to walk In pain and weakness He climbed that great hill With onlookers following and His blood being spilled Finally the moment had ceased for al...

In the Book of Philippians, the Bible tells us, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Once a person puts their trust in Jesus, this has got to be one of the most important verses in all of Scripture. It tells us now that we have trusted in Jesus, God will never give up on us! Paul is telling us here that he wants us to be confident in the fact, that once we place our trust in Jesus He is not going to cast us aside if we trip up. He is going to complete the work that He began in our lives the moment He saved us. God has not forgotten about us.  Paul uses this same terminology throughout his writings. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul tells Timothy that he has been "persuaded that He (Jesus) is able to keep" what Paul entrusted to Him in faith, that is his soul. This word for "persuaded" is the same Greek word used for confident in Philippians 1:6. In R...