Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature.” — Mark 16:15 It’s interesting how we sometimes think Jesus’ last command to his disciples was, “Go into the whole world and start churches.” He was much smarter than that. He knew that if he had said that, then his followers would have …
Your Father knows what you need before you ask. — Matthew 6:8 It’s simplistic to say that prayer is more than just asking God for something. Yet, especially in times of stress, our prayer life resets to a list of urgent requests. Father Richard Rohr, in one of his daily devotions, described what we can learn from …
The Lord is good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all his handiwork! All that you have made gives thanks to you, Lord; all your faithful ones bless you! — Psalm 145:9-10 One of the most endearing memories I have of our daughter Emma is when she was around four years old. For …
We love because God first loved us. — 1 John 4:19 Churches should have an identity/mission statement. It should be something that reminds members of who they are as a congregation and what they should be focusing on. Here’s one: “Love Christ deeply, worship Christ passionately, serve Christ boldly.” But perhaps, for individual Christians, the simpler the better. Like …
This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today. — Psalm 118:24 One of the biggest blessings from being a pastor is being privileged to have known–and learned from–some amazing people. One of those blessings was a saint I called “Grandma Tillie.” That’s her in the above picture and, as you can tell by my red-not-gray …
You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb. — Psalm 139:13 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb. — Sirach 1:14 Awe and humility are the only proper response to nature shows. I’m absolutely …
When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself in Azotus. — Acts 8:39-40 A side effect of getting older is losing control–of your body, your mind, your plans, your finances, your driving…well, you get the …
“Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:18 Note what Jesus could have said when he was leaving them at the beginning of the Book of Acts. “…And you will …
NOTE: Last Wednesday I sent out a blog, If They Had Met in Prison, but due to a glitch only about half of our subscribers received it. If you were one of those who didn’t, you can read it HERE. *** Those who dwell on the far edges stand in awe of your acts. You make the …
And whenever Jehudi read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot until the whole scroll was burned up. — Jeremiah 36:23 Here’s a little-known biblical incident. King Jehoiakim was annoyed by Jeremiah, because the prophet proclaimed judgment on the …