Happy Monday! This is going to be a week for me to understand this edition of the word-of-the-week… PATIENCE I just have a simple question: how do I know the difference between patience and procrastination? I’m working on partnerships and sponsorships for Journey4Hope. I’ve made some contacts and done follow-ups. I don’t want to be […]
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Life And Coffee Cups
Happy Saturday! Life is like a cup of coffee. Sounds like something Forrest Gump might say, huh? That’s okay–sometimes things become trite because they convey a bit of truth. See what you find in this simple illustration. If you can’t see the video, click here. Have a great weekend!
Continue readingMore TagWhen Guilt And Gratitude Collide
Recent weeks have taken me to some extreme fear, overflowing gratitude, and tremendous guilt. It’s been quite a roller coaster ride–and I don’t like roller coasters! Check out the story in the latest edition of Rich’s Semi-Regular Newsletter.
Continue readingMore TagEternity Is Not A Platitude
Do you ever hit yourself (or others) in the head with religious platitudes? Joe’s pretty frustrated. His team at work pointed toward this big evaluation day for weeks. Everyone bought in, did a little extra, took some real pride in a job well done. He said you could feel the excitement, the sense of teamwork […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Bible: What Did It Mean To Them?
Note: This article continues our Wednesday series about the Bible. You can check out previous entries here. What did the scriptures mean to their original audience? Can we really know? Does it matter? According to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, correct interpretation requires that […]
Continue readingMore TagIs This God’s Thing Or Mine?
Have you ever asked that question? So I’m talking to a friend about Journey4Hope and he says, “I prayed about this and I believe God wants me to jump in and help.” And my skeptical bone starts tingling. I wonder a lot about my skeptical side, that part of me that tends to look a […]
Continue readingMore TagChange
Happy Monday! This weekend’s tragedy in Japan inspires today’s word-of-the-week… Change Tens of millions of Japanese awoke to an everyday Friday. Then a devastating earthquake and an even more catastrophic tsunami turned their world upside-down. I know that feeling. Twenty-three years ago I decided to put some simple Christmas lights on my house, and a […]
Continue readingMore TagA View Of Service
Happy Saturday! Here’s an inspiring video from the Wounded Warrior Project, one of the organizations we’re supporting through Journey4Hope. What struck me: Just because you can’t do it like you did it before doesn’t mean you can’t do it. (If you can see the video, click here.) Have a great weekend!
Continue readingMore TagOn Being Sent
Have you ever been sent by someone? The folks in charge of missions at my church have adopted Journey4Hope as a mission. So I’m not just going; I’m being sent. That means they’ll provide prayer support and some help with logistics—all very needed and much appreciated. But there’s another implication that has me reeling in […]
Continue readingMore TagAbsolute Truth
What do you know for sure? I’ve been writing a lot lately about questions and mystery and uncertainty. I think those are good things, but I always seem to go a bit too far. A lot of Christians seem to know everything about everything, and I think I overreact by asking questions just to poke […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Bible: Who’s The Audience?
Note: This article continues our Wednesday series about the Bible. You can check out previous entries here. Have you ever thought about the original audience for the writers of the Bible? My answer a couple of years ago would have been, “Who cares?” Turns out that I need to care if I really want to make […]
Continue readingMore TagGod Isn’t A Puzzle
Do you think you understand God? Becky and I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. Every Christmas our dining room table disappears beneath a jumble of odd shapes. We grumble and fuss and finally celebrate as that last piece completes the picture. The result usually remains for several weeks; we actually just removed this year’s version. We have […]
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