The God of the present tense, “I AM," calls us to present tense obedience. It's never too late to begin obeying. So, what are you waiting for? The time is NOW!

It is great to be physically fit and healthy, but it is even greater to be spiritually so. Spiritual fitness is about having a deep, intimate relationship with God. I think now is a good time to “work out.” What about you?

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." (Romans 8:28). This is a great verse, but it is one we would prefer was needed to encourage others rather than ourselves. What would happen if we totally bought in to Romans 8:28?

There is a time to hold a conference and a time to respond to a crisis. When we truly have a Passion for the Harvest, we find that training leaders is not limited to a classroom.

Darlene Franks serves as a key ILI leader in Northern California. She encourages leaders to step away from an events-oriented style of leadership and into a relational style of leadership. Darlene discusses what leadership looks like from an intimate relationship with God and the importance of developing a biblical culture of discipleship.

Not long ago, I had an ear infection and a hearing test was part of standard procedures. The doctor tested my hearing by placing me in a completely quiet room, putting headphones on my ears, and telling me to raise my hand whenever I heard a beep. Perfect hearing would mean every single beep was heard, even the most quiet. It occurred to me that we must train ourselves in a similar way to hear the voice of God.

Have you ever experienced a day when everything seemed to go wrong? Perhaps your tire went flat in the middle of the road and then it started raining. Perhaps your paycheck didn't stretch to the end of the month, and to make matters worse, unforeseen expenses added extreme pressure. Maybe you were hit with the dreadful “C-word” diagnosis — cancer. Every day we are hit with bad news, big or small, but some days it seems to pile up. How can we overcome days such as these?

"Antonio Velazquez was a grumpy, selfish, and evil old man. He worked for the police obtaining confessions from suspected criminals by questionable means." When I heard Mr. Velazquez's daughter describe my friend in such a way at his funeral, I was completely surprised.

Exploration expeditions often hire the services of a guide or scout to go ahead and clear the way. Leaders, in a way, are like expedition scouts. Besides casting vision, leaders are responsible for making clear the path ahead for the rest of the team.

Eager and excited to arrive in a remote town where our mission team would help local Christians, we heard the word no one wants to hear when they are traveling: delayed. The hours rolled by as we waited in the airport with little information other than our plane was being serviced due to technical problems. We were eager to arrive at our destination and ready to begin work, but being stuck in a small airport in the middle of nowhere, it felt like we were wasting precious time.

Have you ever been to a house of mirrors at a carnival or an amusement part? It is hilarious to see our bodies distorted by concave and convex mirrors. Of course, in the age of technology and Snapchat, all you need is a smart phone and the right app to make your face look like a gorilla or a skinny stick-insect.

A couple months ago, I awoke to half my face drooping like someone turned off the switch on all my facial muscles. After a quick visit to the doctor, I received my diagnosis: Bell’s Palsy. Fortunately, with the help of some medicine and a few small changes in my habits (like drinking coffee through a straw and wearing an eyepatch), not much has changed in my life. My recovery was quick; a couple weeks passed, and the physical side effects of Bell’s Palsy had completely worn off. I really looked fine.

When we talk about the risen Christ, we often use the term “nail-scarred hands.” Any picture or movie of the resurrected Jesus will include the scars from the nails that pierced His hands and feet, as well as the wound in His side. The remnants of Jesus’ crucifixion wounds are significant in the scriptures, but they are also significant in our own lives.

Most people may not know who John Wesley was, but I would argue many (particularly evangelical Christians) have heard his name before. John Wesley was an Anglican priest who founded Methodism in the seventeenth century, but his influence endures today. He was the leader of a spiritual and social revival that changed the face of England, North America, and much of the world. Wesley was a prolific writer and a powerful preacher who spoke to thousands. So, with all of these great accomplishments, what is Wesley’s greatest legacy?

Love is part of being human. After all, we were created in God’s image, and God is love. We love and are happier for it, but at the same time, every form of love carries some level of danger. But is this dangerous love worth the risk?