A disciple of Christ needs to find the proper balance of active fishing on the water and active preparation on the dock.
Foundations for Worship: Jewish Feasts
Foundations provide support for structures, but that does not mean that the structures will look like the foundation. A house does not look like a basement.
Chronic Pain and Unmitigated Joy (or "we just sold our house")
A day will come when the burden will be lifted. In a flash the situation will improve, and I will feel joy. Or perhaps the situation will improve gradually, and I will feel my steps growing lighter and easier.
Vampire Forensics
The subject of vampirism is a current rage. Where did the idea of a vampire arise? More to our point, do they have anything to say about our own beliefs in God?
Untamable
I talk when I shouldn't. I'm quiet when I should talk. When I do talk, I often say the wrong things. I pray that God will tame what I find untamable.
How I'm Changing As a Minister
I'm still a work in progress and have come to believe that I will always be changing as a minister. I thought it might be helpful to someone to consider my path as a preacher.
A Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus, show me your heart Give me your heart I'm desperate for you Lord I want to know you, even in this life. Lord give me a glimpse and then empower me to live it.
Happiness and Sadness as Temptations to Idolatry
I have a very simple proposition: rejoicing and weeping, great joy and great sorrow, leave us in places of great temptation to idolatry.
Holiday Sufferers
We would prefer is a simple greeting, a heartfelt smile, and freedom from having to relate a “spun” or flat out untruthful rendition of what we got for Christmas or what wonderful family gathering we had.
Declaring My Incompetence
I do not deceive myself into thinking that I have ever met that standard for even a minute out of my best ministerial hour, but I am not willing to lower my standard.
World without Me
Still, I can somewhat imagine the world before I was born, and I somehow can contemplate the world many years after I have died, but I falter at imaging it tomorrow, or even next week, without me.
Knowing What Is Best
The fact that there is an ethical dimension to Christianity is undisputed. The dispute regarding ethics lies in how that dimension relates to salvation.
The Hardest Command
No one ever asked Jesus which was the hardest command, but had they done so, I feel confident it would be to love your enemies as you love yourself.
Socks and Worship
“Every good and perfect gift” is from the hand of God. Once I grasp this truth, I not only want to thank God, I am glad he has commanded me to do so!
Prayer for a Friend Who Died of Suicide
I offer this prayer hoping it may give words to others who struggle with understanding why such things happen.
