I wish things were simple. I wish that difficult problems could all be easily resolved through sincere determination to obey God, regular time in His Word, and fervent prayer. In a sense, they can. The heart that is single-minded in …
When your friend suffers there’s a lot you can do to help, even if you think you don’t know what to say. Life has rough edges that cut deeply. The fabric of human existence is riddled with the dark stain of suffering. …
I remember towards the end of a semester long study abroad trip in college when I read the beginning of John 13. Not the well-read section on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet but the very first verse that introduces why …
The writer and teacher Father Richard Rohr referred to contemplation as the lost tradition in Christianity. Contemplation is a radically simple yet perpetually elusive spiritual practice. It is the practice of focusing one’s life on God in the here and …
Over the course of our marriage, we’ve identified some helpful strategies for dealing with the conflicts we face. Sometimes we pray and try to determine what caused us to continue to be combative in our speech. From our experiences, we’ve …
To live faithfully in your community, you must ask yourself if you’re willing to truly be a neighbor. Are you willing to live out of a posture of generous hospitality? Being a neighbor is something entirely different from merely having …
Oddly enough, there is no Hebrew word in the Old Testament text that corresponds exactly to our word, religion. Of course, there are a number of other words and concepts that certainly illustrate what we mean. Those words, especially within …
In 1988 the world watched as the first Jamaican bobsled team competed in the Winter Olympics. Yes, that Jamaica, the tropical Caribbean island where temperatures never drop below freezing. In 1993, Disney turned the story into a movie, Cool Runnings. …
I’m constantly amazed at the reasons people give for not having important conversations. They hold back for fear they’ll be misunderstood or because they think they don’t know enough to share about Jesus. This is pride in disguise. If you …
Read moreCrazy Reasons for Not Having Important Conversations
I have a confession. I’m an introvert, and at times, being around other people drains me. This is especially true when I’m in social settings for extended periods with people I don’t know well. I’m pretty good at hiding it …