Author: Nick

I don’t read the Bible every day. I haven’t been following a plan for regular Bible reading. That changes as of February 1. February isn’t too late for a resolution, is it? I have started a plan to read through the New Testament in a year. If you are interested in doing the same let me recommend YouVersion. It’s the best bible app and is available for most computers and smart phones for free. It offers many different plans and the ability to share with other users of the app. They are offering a 21 day challenge now to get folks, like you and me, started on regular bible reading.   My first two days of reading have been great. I’m in Matthew watching Jesus spar with the Pharasees. Yesterday he asked them if they had read the scriptures. What a burn for a group who prided themselves on their bible knowledge. Not a bad place to start for someone who needs to spend more time in scripture. Today I encountered the famous “Give unto Caesar” quote. I got a fresh perspective today. The quote has been used to encourage folks to pay their taxes, which, of course we should. […]

In May, Rosemary and I will have been married for forty-seven years. I love her as much as ever. I guess you can safely say that it’s a “Love That Lasts.” It hasn’t always been easy. We can relate to others who have lost a child, been falsely accused, had financial problems and have had a hand in raising grandchildren. I’m not sure I’ve learned any secrets in the process. The most recent issue of Covenant Spotlight is “Love That Lasts” and would help anyone struggling to achieve long-lasting love.  The greatest love of all is God’s love for you. Page 4. Most of us dream of “finding love.” It’s really right in front of us. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus did that for us. You have  got to love that. Include Christ. Page 6. Marriage is a covenant between imperfects. Our spouse was never meant to fulfill all our needs. Don’t put that burden on anybody, except Jesus. A successful marriage is a three cord affair, with Jesus as the third and binding cord. The “D” word is not an option. Page 8. I know someone who on […]

As Christians we ought to pray for those in government. It’s tough sometimes to do it with enthusiasm, even for those we voted for. God has placed some folks in positions of great influence. Right now there are some who are in particular need of prayer. Several key members of the Trump Administration are Christians. It is likely they will be more as the administration is filled out.  Christians in government, especially in Washington, are already targets of attack from a generally non-Christian nation and from spiritual forces as well. Please pray for them. Here are just some examples: Vice – President Mike Pence has said, “My Christian faith is at the heart of who I am” and “I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.” Chief of Staff Reince Preibus has tweeted “Christ’s sacrificial work provides an example for us all, and we join with the Psalmist in saying ‘You make known to me the path of life.’” Attorney General Jeff Sessions is Sunday school teacher at his family’s church. Housing and Urban Development’s Dr. Ben Carson believes that God spoke clearly to him that Trump would be president. Education’s Betsy DeVos is a Christian committed to […]

When speaking with an old friend and client yesterday I observed that there are “too many lawyers.” Sometimes I am so wise that I amaze myself. I was, of course, talking about the number of people practicing law. There are too many of us as evidenced by the number of frivolous lawsuits and the amount of lawyer advertising.  After giving it some thought, I realized that my statement was true in a broader sense. Lawyers specialize in advocacy and in making arguments. Witnesses, on the other hand, generally stick to the facts. We have way too much argument and not enough relating of facts. This has become clear in the first week of the Trump administration. Trump has been calling in CEOs and labor leaders and regular folks, for example, to learn some facts. This seems to me a good thing. Washington is long on experts and theory and often short on regular folks and facts.  When Congress holds hearings on the need for a piece of legislation, it’s great to hear from experts in the field. However, nothing is more powerful that the witness of some regular folks impacted by the problem being faced, whether it’s crime, a […]

The forty-fifth President, Donald Trump, is at war with the media. It’s been amazing and sickening to watch in the first few days of his administration, the lies, mischaracterizations, and personal attacks, even on his 10 year old son. Christians should be particularly sympathetic. In large part due to our media, the United States is now on an annual list of the world’s persecutors of Christians and countries that are regressing in religious freedom.  The United States is a “new and noteworthy” nation in the 2016 “Hall of Shame Report” issued by International Christian Concern, or ICC.     “… certain segment of the culture and the courts seem to be intent on driving faith out of the public square. There have been too many court cases with bad decisions to miss the clear trend line.”   For example, after Muslim terrorist Omar Mateen murdered 49 and injured 53 innocent people in a June 11, 2016, attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, it was Christians whom many targeted with blame, the report states. “Incredibly, after the attack, numerous high profile media outlets blamed the attacks on what they perceived as the anti-LGBTQ atmosphere that Christians have created. “In short, Christians in the […]

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 Got any resolutions left? I gave up making resolutions years ago. I still look at the New Year as a chance to refresh things. I updated my law practice website to reflect a new “mobile” aspect to my practice. Check it out. Would love comments and critical eyes to review. When you do something like that yourself, you really miss having an editor. Being more “mobile” with my work is just one aspect of “getting out there.” It’s also part of the plan for being a more effective disciple maker. That’s really the only way to make a difference. I have been watching some videos on this from Verge Network.  Here are the keys from the first video. Making disciples is God’s plan. I wrote about it last time.  It’s really a pyramid “scheme” the original one.  It’s more than just making Christians.  We often think our job is to get folks to say a prayer asking Jesus into their hearts. Evangelism is just the first step in disciple making. It’s an awesome and […]

In the 70s, I was in the military and there was always a need for a few extra bucks. Lot’s of us got involved in Amway or Home Interiors. These were essential pyramid schemes. They sold pretty good products and you could get involved on different levels. Customer – You could just like the products and buy them from friends who were distributors. Distributor – You could become a distributor and get the products at a discount and just use them yourself. Working Distributor – You could really distribute the products and make a profit on what you sold. Enrolling Distributor – Some realized that there was more money in getting others to distribute product “under” you. You earned a percentage from what your recruited distributors sold. Enrolling Enrolling Distributors – The real money was in enrolling distributors who enrolled others who enrolled others. That’s how the pyramid really grew and the money “rolled in.” It’s a pretty good plan. In fact, God came up with it. It was Jesus’ plan to build His kingdom. We followers are really part of the original pyramid scheme. Okay “scheme” is a word with negative connotation Let’s just say pyramid plan. Most of us […]

We are already half way through the first month of 2017. This year is going to fly by even faster than last.  Maybe it’s time to focus on what I really want to do in 2017. Sure I want to lose weight, get more fit, learn a new language, write a book, and, oh yes, change the world. I suspect I’m not going to really do all that. What I should really want to do is what Jesus told me to do. “Make disciples.” It may not mean losing weight, getting fit, learning a new language or writing a book, but it may actually change the world. Jesus didn’t tell us to “make disciples” for no reason. He came and died to change things, to make a difference,  and this is how it will happen.  In the first couple of weeks of 2017, I have stumbled across something that may help me do that “make disciples” thing. For some time I have got emails from the Verge Network. They described themselves as champions and advocates for movements of Missional Communities. Some of my favorite Christian teachers are involved: Francis Chan and David Platt. They talk a lot about being […]