Bewildered. That’s how I would describe so many faithful Christians recently. They’ll express a deep confusion about how so many people could exist without faith of any kind. They’ll wonder how so many Christians could embrace teachings and lifestyles that are clearly against God’s created order and even spoken against by Jesus. They’ll speak with […]
Living on the edge? While we like to talk about how exciting it is to live on the edge, most of us don’t really like it there. We like things to be secure, comfortable and predictable. So long as we have a safety net of our own creation we can dabble in edgy things without […]
One of the highlights of my vocation as a pastor is spending time with our members who are unable to get around. Often the discussion will center on the health challenges these people face and coming to grips with their gradual (or sudden) loss of ability. These people spent decades busy helping others. Now the […]
When I was a kid I loved to decorate the house for Christmas. I would pull all the dusty boxes out of storage and happily untangle the garland and the Christmas lights. I would assemble our fake tree and load it with enough decorations so that nobody would know the difference… or so I thought. […]
I just bought a brand new smartphone. It’s fun to play with all the new features and enjoy the afterglow of having something new and admirable. But I’ve been through this before. Soon the feelings fade and I’m left with an electronic device that will either be a help or a hinderance. It can be […]
Remember a birthday like this? It’s present opening time and under the ripped paper anticipation turns to dismay. Before you is a gift you will never ever use. Showtime! Smile big, gush with thank yous, throw in a bear hug and on to the next gift. They’ll never know their gift was a dud. The […]
Things have changed in America. Christianity and the teachings of Jesus aren’t as openly accepted any more. Have you ever felt like you didn’t know what to say or how to act around someone whose beliefs and life were very different than ours? It’s not just you! This is tough! We see Christians compromising on […]
Recently, our church had the opportunity to spend some time in Psalm 37. It seems like the perfect Psalm for American conservative Christianity as we explore how to be true to what we believe in a land that seems to have turned on many of the things we hold as foundational. Let me recommend, that […]
Christians have a unique way about them. When faith in Jesus comes into our hearts, when we know that our sins have been forgiven, when we have the freedom to live life according to God’s design, we stick out in a crowd. We have a different way of approaching life. We have confidence that we […]
To so many, the Christian faith seems hopelessly complex. Countless books have been written to explain it. Dizzying schematics have been used to diagram it. Frightened Christians dare not wade into its depths lest they be drowned with questions impossible to answer. Is the faith that spread like wildfire in the first century AD really […]
