Paul's Powerful Prayer

It’s been said, “We live forward but understand backwards.” 

For many of us, that means we can look back over our lives and see all the stupid things we’ve done, knowing there is nothing we can do to change history. 

It also gives you the opportunity to look back and see God’s protection, His providence, and His promises specifically and purposefully woven throughout your life even when you were completely unaware. 

I have assigned labels to the seasons of my life, arranged in decades. It gives me a snapshot of my life and demonstrates the sovereignty of God regardless of the stupid decisions I made. 

What do our lives and popcorn have in common?

One evening several years ago, as I fixed popcorn on the stove for my kids (the old fashioned way), an inadvertent blunder became fodder for an object lesson I used years later as a friend and I led our church's junior high and high school youth group.  

We had been discussing personal and spiritual "boundaries" in the group, so I decided to reach back into my kitchen from years before for my popcorn mishap to demonstrate the chaos of a life without boundaries. Ushering all the students into the church kitchen, I pulled out a large pot, added oil and a scoop of popcorn kernels. After turning up the heat, I began visiting with the kids, making sure all were out of reach of any splattering hot oil. This time, I intentionally left the lid off the pot.

The Silent Christian: Is that possible?

“I may not talk about my faith, but I still believe”.

“I don’t have to talk about God to prove that I’m a Christian”.

“I’m a private person, and I prefer to keep my faith private”. 

From Darkness to Light

(Dream in November 1988)


This dream is found in My Testimony, but here I give a little more detail surrounding the circumstances, setting the stage for the most powerful dream I’ve ever had. Among all the dreams God has given me, this one by far stands out from the rest. I think you will see why. 

I shared a story with someone just recently about this period in my life from what I consider to be of my darkest days, yet also consider as the most precious days of my life because they led me to Christ. I had been in a period of rebellion, and though I had grown up in the church, I had only the “head knowledge” of God and lacked any real relationship. I even sensed His constant presence, even in times of rebellion, but I only wanted Him on my terms, not His.

Unhappy, unfulfilled, and discontent with my life, I sought out the things of this world to bring me peace, satisfaction, and happiness. Alas, they did—for a short time anyway—only a short time. Then came the day when everything changed, and the light in my soul burned out.