toddcast

I’m starting a new study this week from a dark period in the history of Old Testament Israel. After the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon — a season in which Israel experienced a good deal of success and influence — the nation does something tragic: it divides. What follows is a troubled and sobering chapter in Old Testament history, and it serves as a powerful warning for us today. When a workplace divides, decline is inevitable. When a sports team fractures from within, a drop in performance almost always follows. And when a church experiences unresolved conflict, it inevitably loses influence and compromises its witness to the world around it. Division is never just an internal matter — it always has real and lasting consequences. It makes sense then that Scripture says quite a bit about the value of unity. Unity matters deeply — and not just as a good idea. It is a direct command from God: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” — E...

What a white water rafting trip taught me about God -  A few years ago my wife, two young daughters and I packed up and headed to Red River, New Mexico for a vacation. For a bit of adventure we decided to try something we had never done before — white water rafting. Before climbing into the raft, we were handed a stack of waivers to sign. You know the kind. The ones that acknowledge if you die it's all your fault. I reluctantly signed them, but I felt relief after we met our guide. He introduced himself before we pushed off, and before long I felt safe in spite of the risks clearly expressed in the waivers. And it wasn't because the river got safer or I had magically become stronger. It was something about him. He had four qualities that made all the difference. He was strong . One look at him and you knew — this man has been on this river a hundred times. If something goes wrong, he is getting us out. He was kind . He wasn't just running a transaction. He genuinely w...

You send a text and get no response. You submit a request for customer service and hear nothing back. Frustrating. Infuriating. Maddening. Silence communicates volumes. It says, You're not worth my time. You're not important enough to respond to. I have better things to do, more important tasks to take care of. It's happened enough to me that I've come to terms with the fact that some people just don't care. Sometimes silence might be understandable. I really don't expect to hear back from important people. If I write a letter to the CEO of a company, I don't hold out much hope for a response. When I attend a professional sporting event, I don't expect my favorite athlete to come over to me and personally thank me for attending. I live under the assumption that rich and famous people don't have time for insignificant people like me. We live in a world of uncaring people who ignore us and important people who have no time for us. This truth hurt...