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When Christianity in America will finally grow up
We will realize the true power of the gospel in our lives when we, as Americans, give up our “right” to “win” and be willing to look like we’ve lost. Right now, all we want to is “win.” Win an argument. Win a court case. Win public opinion. When we’re willing to lose… THAT is when we find a better path…
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Saying Farewell (for now) to a Saint
Yesterday we held a memorial service for an incredibly well-loved lady. It was the kind of service where I come away thinking, “What a life!” It was a celebration of a dear lady who served our church with incredible faithfulness for many years, and the last couple of years did so while battling cancer. No matter who I talked to…
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We want to “feel” when we need to “think”
Listening to Dallas Willard again, I am constantly reminded as to how hard it is to take in what he is saying. The DVD I am reviewing as part of a package sent to me by IVP Press also features John Ortberg and he made a comment that perfectly summarizes WHY it is “work” to listen to (or read) Dallas…
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When the oppressed cry out
20 Then the Lord said, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious! 21 I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.” (Gen. 18:20-21) When the cries of the oppressed have reached the ears of God, he will come…
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Missing Dallas Willard
I am beginning to listen to a DVD series put out with a book that features Dallas Willard and John Ortberg. It may have been his last conference before his passing. Listening to his words, his heart, my own heart is drawn in. I am so thirsty to know Christ like Dallas Willard knew Christ. I miss his presence, but…
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Why the “generation of promise” may not be JUST 25 and under
I work part of the time in a college environment and we have a growing number of young adults in our church. I have three young adult sons. I can actually remember the “fire in my belly” coming out of college. (My memory isn’t completely gone.) So, it’s natural to hear about motivating the generation and focus on this upcoming…
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Am I simply doing what Jesus asked?
I often worry over “right numbers” or “right moments.” The right moment is found in hearing the call of God and obeying. Right numbers? Forget it. God isn’t bothered by ANY number. Just get going in what he has asked you to do! 18 Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? 19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone…
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Jesus in Charge
I have started into Wright’s book, Simply Jesus. I have grown to really like his writing and am challenged by his thinking. To start off this book, it is about recognizing Jesus is in charge. It was dangerous talk in Jesus’ day. It’s not very welcome in our day, either. “Our culture has become used to thinking of Jesus as a ‘religious’ figure…
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The perseverance of prayer
My goal this year is to attempt to re-read some key books that have influenced my life and to slow down on the number of books I read this year to try to read deeper. I am not sure how the “slower” is going to go, but I did finish Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain as my first book. If I do a…
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MLK — Lukewarm acceptance vs. outright rejection
I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux…
