Recently someone asked me what I thought was the hardest thing about prayer for most people. I didn’t have to think twice. The toughest part, no question, is setting aside the time and sticking with it. From baby believers to …
The land of unanswered prayer is full of people like me—people who have lost their optimism. People who spend sleepless nights waiting for another shoe to drop. Many of us then seek to protect ourselves by lowering our expectation to …
On October 22, 2018, at the age of 85, Eugene Peterson passed from this earth to more fully be with his creator. He is the author of many books and of THE MESSAGE bible translation. He has completed his journey …
The dilemma in the land of unanswered prayer, and one of our chief concerns as followers of Christ: How then shall we walk? How should we carry ourselves in the midst of our trials? Is it okay to walk with …
Read moreHow to Plant Gardens in the Land of Unanswered Prayer
She had beaten leukemia when she was seventeen, then fought off breast cancer at thirty-two. By now, she and George were full of faith, and her peace was genuine. We soon discovered, however, that those earlier battles had taken a …
One year when my daughter was in middle school, I had the unusual opportunity to pick her up from school every day. I worked downtown and we lived in the suburbs, so this was a short-lived and precious season. Each …
Read moreWhat Picking Up My Daughter From School Taught Me About Surrender
Most of us are angry at something. We are angry at our parents for what we didn’t receive as a child; we are angry at what we are not receiving from our partners as adults (or maybe we are angry …
Many times we want the benefits of work minus the suffering, or we want resurrection without crucifixion. In the story of the prodigal son, the judgmental elder brother did work hard, but relationally he was a coward; he dodged familial …
There are basically four ways to live the Christian life. WAY #1 The first way is to attempt to do it entirely on our own, by our own effort and willpower. This way is doomed to failure. Jesus stated very …
In our Christian circles, the word fellowship has come to mean little more than Christian social activity. It may mean the exchange of pleasantries over coffee and cookies at church, or the social functions of our high school or campus …