What will happen in 2010? The only answer, of course, is that we have no idea what will happen. And, to a large extent, we can’t control many of the events that will shape our lives in the next twelve months—or the next twelve hours. We can control only our attitudes and our efforts, the […]
Continue readingSetting The Stage For Success
So, how did 2009 go for you? A few weeks ago I asked a question (Who Else Wants To Finish Strong?) about completing the year rather than simply running out the clock. I hope I did that, but now it’s time to reflect, plan, and look forward to whatever’s next.
Continue readingBethlehem: So What?
Yesterday our pastor, Dick Foth, asked a surprising question. In a post-Christmas reflection looking back at Bethlehem, he asked, “So what?” Pastors usually don’t ask questions like that without offering some direction. Dick provided his own insightful answer to “So what?” and also provoked me to seek my own response. I thought it was a pretty worthwhile […]
Continue readingThe Light Of The World
What happens when there’s no light? Last evening I sat in the dark with nearly two thousand people. As we passed the flame from candle to candle, the room took on a warm glow. Then, in unison, we raised the candles and proclaimed: YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD That’s exactly what happened in […]
Continue readingO Holy Night
Christmas Eve, 1906 marked a significant event. One hundred three years ago, the first AM radio broadcast occurred. It’s reported that ships off the New England coast heard the first song ever broadcast: O HOLY NIGHT.
Continue readingThe Paradox Of Christmas
Two shopping days until Christmas! That announcement greeted me first thing this morning, and I was struck by the amazing paradox embedded in a common seasonal countdown. Hurry up and shop for the birth of God’s Son!—sounds a bit silly if you think about it.
Continue readingChristmas In A Single Word
Agape. That’s it. If you want to distill the entire notion of Christmas into a single, simple concept, it’s Agape. Self-sacrificial, intentional love. That’s the message of Christmas. I was thinking this morning about the idea of approaching Christmas intentionally (10 Ways You Can Enjoy An Intentional Christmas) and I had the idea that I […]
Continue readingSometimes You Just Gotta Chuckle
If you’ve been following along, you’ll understand that this hasn’t been the easiest week for me, so it was a good time to encounter the following silly story. The theology’s a bit shaky and there’s no real moral or lesson except that it’s good to chuckle occasionally and stop taking it all so seriously.
Continue readingAdversity And Christmas
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back […]
Continue readingYou And A Manger
What would Jesus think? Last time I wrote about A Wheelchair And A Manger and wondered how Jesus would respond to the presence of a disabled person in the nativity circle. As I considered comments and reactions, I realized that I avoided my own question. I began by asking “What would Jesus think?” but I […]
Continue readingA Wheelchair And A Manger
What would Jesus think? I’ve been doing a little exercise based on 10 Ways You Can Enjoy An Intentional Christmas. I’m trying to spend some time each day at the nativity scene, wondering about the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of each character. I found myself wondering how Jesus would respond to the presence of a […]
Continue readingThe River (Relentless Grace excerpt #11)
Happy Monday! For the next few Mondays, I’ll post a series of excerpts from RELENTLESS GRACE. You can read previous excerpts here. I hope you enjoy them, and that you’ll encounter God’s invitation to give hope another chance. THE RIVER (Relentless Grace Excerpt #11) Note: This final excerpt includes notes from the journal that formed the […]
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