I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Matthew 10:16

Shrewd as Snakes, Innocent as Doves

Follow Jesus in the world, not of the world.

Draw the Faith. Simply. Powerfully. Accurately. Stick Figures. Arrows. You can do it.

More from the blog

The Bewildering Yet Beautiful Way of Wisdom

There are people who believe that when you become a Christian, life gets easier. I suppose in some ways that is true. Knowing I am forgiven makes living with myself and others much more tolerable. Having a clearly defined morality and a strong conviction to act on that morality helps with decision making. Does that […]

Grief, Gratitude, and the Power of Prayer

As many of you know, I recently lost my father after a 16-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. My family and I are ever so grateful for the prayers and love expressed to us during this difficult time. As someone who walks with you through the valley of the shadow of death, reminding you that your […]

Spiritual Rhythms

I eat every day. Usually, I eat at the same time every day. My body enjoys the rhythm of eating and benefits from that regularity. The same is true of many other things in my life. I brush my teeth twice a day as a part of my morning and evening routines. I go to […]

You Know the Cure

You can relate to her suffering. You know it too well. You still bear the scars. It’s such a common disease, yet it affects people so differently. This menacing malady is stealthy; its victims can have it without ever realizing it. Worse yet, it somehow convinces us that we’re fine… but we’re not. Slowly, deliberately, […]

Say the Word

It is fascinating to witness the change in behavior when a person learns that I’m a pastor. Some people express an instant sense of guilt or insecurity. It’s awkward. If someone has been using foul language before they realize the reverend’s presence, they may apologize to me, or if a word or two slips out […]

Rise Above

My favorite seat in the airplane is the window seat. I know it’s not the most convenient seat in the airplane for getting around, but that’s a small price to pay for the view out the window. There is just nothing like looking down on entire cities, lakes or mountain ranges. If I’m lucky, I […]

Carrying Jesus

I have come to the painful realization that only so much can be said about the Bible in a single sermon or Bible class. Just because I get to teach something in a Bible class doesn’t mean it will make it into a sermon. This means a lot of powerful biblical truths are left sitting […]

Developing a Heavenly Perspective

Have you ever wondered what God thinks of all the things happening around us? Perhaps that’s an impossible question to even ponder, but I disagree. God has revealed a glimpse of His perspective to us in His word. An amazing thing happens when we absorb God’s word into our hearts. That little glimpse of God’s […]

The LCMS and Interfaith Prayer Vigils: A Shrewd and Innocent Approach

Over the past week, my denomination, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), has been dragged through the mud internally and externally over a very difficult issue for us.  The context is the horrible school shootings that happened recently in Newtown, CT and the interfaith prayer vigil that followed.  A pastor in the LCMS, Rev. […]

Joining the Family Business

Have you ever wondered what the big deal is about the name of God? It’s everywhere, but what does it mean? At the beginning of our worship we invoke the name of the Triune God. We baptize in the Triune name of God. Christians bear the name of God and praise the name of God. […]

A Shocking Discovery: The Great Commission

Maybe it’s happened to you.  You’ve read a particular passage of Scripture time and time again, but this time something sunk in and changed you.  It’s happened to me.  I’ve been changed.  Funny thing is, it’s a passage I’ve read hundreds of times, the Great Commission.  As I reflect, a lot of things came together to bring […]