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Remind me of my real home
A prayer I saw on the Renovare site today: Jesus, everlasting Teacher, use my out-of-placeness to remind me again of my alien status in this world. I belong to another kingdom and live out of another reality. May I always be ultimately concerned to learn the nuances of this eternal reality so that when it becomes my permanent residence I…
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Urgent calls in prayer that seem odd
The call to “lay it on the line” is usually reserved for the hardest places in the world. Places hostile to the gospel, or at least “hard” to the gospel. We support many missionaries in areas like this who are answering the call to “live dead.” But… that doesn’t apply to us, does it? In the United States? In the…
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Persistence leads to “moments”
Ever look at something, someone, an event, or some story of success and the storyline seems to be: “They are an ‘overnight’ success?” For me as a pastor it seems that we get these stories of “overnight” success of churches, ministries, etc. It’s like, “all of a sudden” here is this huge success story. Laying aside our warped definitions of…
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What if Jesus really meant it?
What if Jesus really meant all that stuff in the Sermon on the Mount? You could love your enemies. You could bless those that curse you. You could live in spiritual maturity. You could live with peace and without anxiety. Not only could you… but the implication is you should. What if Jesus really meant all that? No more excuses. He has given…
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Holy anger and prayer
I said “holy” anger only to make it sound more spiritual, I guess. I was thinking about prayer and passion in prayer in the past couple of days. This thought has occurred to me as I have mulled over my laziness in prayer. When the enemy attacks me, I can pretty much “take it.” It’s not that I can really…
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Why we must keep praying
I am currently working my daily reading through Mark Batterson’s Draw the Circle. Today’s reading reminds me again as to WHY I must pray. Often I think of prayer as what I bring to God and want to see right away, or at least in my lifetime! Otherwise, why pray? I mean, if God isn’t going to answer my prayer… what’s the point? Right?…
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Giving Thanks for John MacArthur
“Strange Fire” is over and it is clear that John MacArthur gives very little credence to anything Pentecostal, and he truly despises anything Charismatic. I’ve voiced my disappointment because it only divides the Body of Christ needlessly. I know MacArthur doesn’t it see it that way since he truly thinks most Charismatics aren’t even saved. So… there you go. Yet,…
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A heart that clings to God
The assault of so many “inputs” in our lives makes it incredibly difficult to concentrate. We simply have so much noise in our lives. We need a determination to push through and focus on the ways of God. It takes determination. The Psalmist cries out: Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. The Holy…
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Pumpkin Spice Everything
After hearing yet another advertisement for pumpkin spice something… I think it was pancakes this time… I thought of the scene from Forrest Gump where the army buddy was talking about all the things you can do with shrimp. Substitute “pumpkin spice” for “shrimp” and we have a whole new field of possibilities!
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Prayer and Action
“We can pray until our knees are numb, but if our praying isn’t accompanied by acting, then we won’t get anywhere. We need to put feet to our faith.” — Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle.
