I think of myself as a rather simplistic guy. I like to discover basic truths and essential principles. In this sort of quest, I frequently recall a quote from another principle-seeker: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” – Albert Einstein Following Jesus sometimes becomes complex. We become lost in debate about intricate […]
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Agape
Our culture is confused about love. Certainly there’s no shortage of references to the concept. We sing about love, read about love, and dream about love. We search for it (often in all the wrong places), celebrate when we find it, and grieve when we lose it. One of the biggest holidays of the year commemorates our apparent […]
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The question confronted me again this weekend: “What’s your book about?” I’ve stumbled over a number of minimally-satisfying answers, but Valentine’s Day prompts me to try a new approach. Relentless Grace is about LOVE.
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When it comes to listening to God, I’m a decidedly slow learner. It usually seems that He has to “prompt” me a number of times before I get the message. I’m trying to learn that when I encounter the same thought multiple times, perhaps I ought to pay attention.
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A friend reminded me yesterday of the subtle, subversive nature of sin. He pointed out how the world offers many shiny promises of hope and fulfillment. Money, possessions, and accomplishments dangle before us constantly, cleverly tempting us to swallow the lure of false security.
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I like metaphors. Perhaps I’m a bit simple-minded, but I’ve encountered a few metaphors that seem to help me as I stumble my way along my path. One illustration that incorporates a lot of meaning in many circumstances is The Story of the Jar. I won’t repeat the story, but please click the link if […]
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Everybody’s got a story. As I listen to reader reactions to Relentless Grace, I’m more convinced than ever of this truth: everybody’s got a story.
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Last week I wrote about The Story of the Jar. I won’t repeat the story, but please click the link if you’re not familiar with this metaphor. As I’ve discussed this demonstration with various groups, I’m always struck by the variety of lessons that emerge. Today I’d like to think about the finite capacity of […]
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I recall Martin Luther King as a scary figure. Unrest and violence seemed to surround him. As a kid I really didn’t appreciate the significance of the issues, didn’t recognize the injustice. I grew up in the mostly white Midwest, and all I saw was disruption to what seemed a pretty safe, peaceful world.
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A teacher stood before his class. On a table the students observed a large glass jar and a pile of fist-sized rocks. He carefully placed as many rocks into the jar as possible and asked the students to acknowledge that no more rocks would fit. Then he reached under the table, retrieved a pitcher containing pea-sized […]
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One interesting aspect of working with young adolescents involves observing their efforts to discover and define their identity. It’s a fascinating, often painful, and frequently humorous developmental challenge for each individual.
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“Life won’t ever be normal again.”“The way it used to be” wasn’t normal either, because normal is an illusion. Every life is different, every set of circumstances unique. The good old days weren’t perfect. Blessings and trials coexist in all situations.Question: Have you experienced a change that made you feel that life wouldn’t ever return […]
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