Saint Francis had a penchant for the glory of the world and God’s presence and movement within it. In a time of upheaval and change in the church, when spirituality had strayed from its dedication to the simplicity of the …
I want to grow in what the ancient men and women of faith often called “union with God”—that state of being where God is so present to and alive in us that it is difficult to know where God ends …
I met Matthew[i] in Bulgaria, when I sat across from him at my friend Audrey’s kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon. Between us was a glass casserole dish filled with banitsa, a savory pastry stuffed with mild white cheese. Audrey …
What is it that makes Jesus want to puke? When those who call themselves Christian decide to play it safe and compromise. When people grow so satisfied with how they’re doing in this world that it never occurs to them …
Those most obedient to the Word of God aren’t the most disciplined—but those most deeply connected to his love. My friend Dan[i] served fourteen years in the Michigan prison system—the last eight without a major ticket, which is an absolute …
Read moreHow Can I Love the Bible When All I See Are Commands I Haven’t Obeyed?
There’s yet one more reason some of us struggle to “feel” the presence of Jesus: We haven’t given ourselves permission to feel much of anything at all. “Pour out your heart before Him,” David beckons (Psalm 62:8). But how difficult …
Prior to Jesus’ statement about the abundant life in John 10:10, he says that Satan is a “thief [who] comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Jesus is pointing out that Satan will do everything he can to keep …
My 1998 Jeep Cherokee is a slightly beaten-up adventure vehicle. It isn’t anything beautiful or fancy. In fact, sometimes it doesn’t start. The ceiling is littered with the signatures and doodles of my people, and the radio adds a static …
If you remember your high-school biology, the human eyeball (the retina, specifically) is equipped with particular cells, called cones, which sense and interpret color. We have three different types that determine the color we see. Don’t worry, none of this …
In 2010, I was standing at the finish line of the Los Angeles Marathon, waiting to cheer for my oldest daughter as she completed her race. I remember watching the runners and thinking how normal they all looked (well, at …