Every season of faith is important, and every season has its beauty. The question for us today is not what season of faith is better than others, but how can we embrace each season as it comes to us. Certain practices in certain seasons help us do that.
Read MoreWe are all different, and there is such a plethora of spiritual practices that we can all find something to which we would look forward every day. But that doesn't mean we should stay with what's comfortable all the time.
Read MoreYou live in the middle of Empire, but if you are a follower of Jesus you are no longer a citizen of the Empire. Rather, you are a resident alien. As such, you are called to fight against being shaped by the values of the Empire, and instead live by the values and practices of God's Kingdom.
A Rule of Life will help you do that.
Read MoreMost people who think they multitask actually do something called "task swapping" or "task juggling," meaning they quickly switch back and forth between tasks and call it multitasking. This is terrible for our spiritual health.
Read MoreThere are two streams of Christian tradition that make peace (i.e. shalom, wholeness, wellness) a central part of their ethos. One is the contemplative tradition, which leans toward the desire for inner peace. The other is the activist tradition, which leans toward the desire for outer peace in the world.
Read MoreExpectations (and broken expectations) are a fact of life. However, when it comes to life with God, expectations can be deadly to the Christian journey.
Read MoreThe amount of people we know or are known by has little impact on our quality of life or our sense of wellbeing, but the depth by which we know and are known has a huge impact.
Read MoreIn general, most people would agree that the reality of death sucks. It is everywhere and influences all things. Everything is breaking down, and the reality of our death "one day" has a huge effect on our quality of life because of what that impending reality evokes within us.
Read MoreWritten by a 7-year old: “You should give up something for Lent. Lent is 40 days. I'm giving up TV. Lent is about the sacrifice of Jesus. Like when Jesus died for us. For example I gave up TV. I want to watch TV. I can't. So I go and read my Bible.”
Read MoreThere are times logic would dictate enjoying beauty from a distance. There are other times one might think we should admire from afar, but in reality we are called to come closer, even at the cost of our comfort. One of those instances is with God.
Read MoreThere are several instances in the four gospels where Jesus speaks about the importance of character, including Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus teaches about one character trait that kills relationships.
We often prefer a miserable past to an unknown future with God.
Read MoreHave you ever been given more than you need, or more than you deserve? How did you respond to this generosity? Some of us may decline excess generosity because it makes us feel self-conscious or guilty for taking more than we need (even if it's freely offered). Others may accept gladly, or hesitantly.
What about receiving God's generosity?
Read MoreIn his version of the birth narratives, Matthew introduces Jesus to us as Emmanuel, or "God with us." The gospel author John does not have a birth narrative per se to open his story of Jesus, but he does say one thing very similar to Emmanuel: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.'"
That line is probably the best synopsis of the Christmas story of all time.
Read MoreChances are you do not see yourself as a fundamentalist.
Chances also are you might be one.
Read MoreIf you or a small group of people were all alone on a deserted island, what resources would you need to grow as a follower of Jesus (assuming you had the things necessary for your physical survival)? How about a person in a typical urban centre with all the amenities and Christian resources they could want. What would they need to grow as a follower of Jesus?
The answer to both those questions is the same.
Read MoreWhen it comes to a seemingly silent God and unanswered prayer, has someone ever told you that you need more faith? Have you ever told yourself that?
Chances are, they (and you) were wrong.
Read MoreWhen you pray, how do you imagine God's posture toward you? Is he busy and hardly paying attention? Is he leaning in and listening intently? Is he ignoring you unless you pester him again and again, like a toddler tugging on their parent's clothes? Jesus told a very strange parable about prayer to help answer these questions.
Read MoreAt times the criticism of people humbled me. Sometimes it hurt me. Other times it angered me. If I'm honest, however, I would say usually the criticism (even good and constructive criticism) angered me before it humbled me.
Read MoreI saw a creepy white van early this morning. Later, when I sat down for some quiet time, my thoughts drifted back to the van and I became curious: "Why was my first reaction to be suspicious?"
Read More
