Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
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Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We’d all be happier people if we could “give thanks in every situation.” When Paul wrote this, he had a lot not to give thanks for. He was rejected by society because of his beliefs. He had a …
When something seems clear-cut to me, and a person believes something different, one question comes to my mind: Why don’t they see it as clearly as they should? This question reveals my arrogance and self-righteousness, of course. The person with whom I disagree is thinking the same thing about me. Hence our human dilemma. A …
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from heaven! Praise God on the heights! — Psalm 146:1 Psalms 145-150 close the Bible’s songbook on a high note. They are pure praise. One of the underlying foundations for that praise is a reflection on just how awe-inspiring God is because of the awe-inspiring creation all around us. …
Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. — 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 I ran across a story that helps keep our priorities aligned with those of Jesus. Remember the old …
Lord, listen closely to me and answer me, because I am poor and in need. (Psalm 86:1) Listen closely to my prayer, Lord; pay close attention to the sound of my requests for mercy. (Psalm 86:6) When our children were babies, I was astounded at my wife’s acute hearing. Deep into the night she could …
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni.” (John 20:16) The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” (John 21:7) John’s Gospel is dotted with weird, mysterious details. Here’s one that we see in the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene lingers at the empty tomb on Easter morning, …
Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. — Matthew 5:11 Throughout my years in pastoral ministry, I never cared for the occasional time when I received one of “those” emails, letters, or phone calls. Someone was upset …
The season for annual conferences in the United Methodist Church has drawn to a close. The main order of business this year was dealing with requests from churches wanting to disaffiliate. The latest tally is that approximately 6,000 left. As the conferences approved their disaffiliation, there was a sense that we should grieve their departure. …
Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd. — John 8:9 One of the ways to let the Bible speak is simply to be curious and ask questions about the things you read. It opens up …
The Lord God proclaims: Enough, princes of Israel! Turn aside from violence and oppression. Establish justice and righteousness. — Ezekiel 45:15 When Ezekiel prophesied these words, his country had been obliterated by the Babylonians. He looked past the destruction and saw a vision of a redeemed nation. There would be sacred space in the middle …