The last day of the year seems like a good time to reflect on my commitments. Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be […]
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Accumulated Wisdom About Being Wrong
I tend to jump to conclusions. It’s a bad habit, especially for a guy who sits in a wheelchair and can’t jump. But whenever there’s a controversy, I seem to have an innate need to choose a side. I’m getting better about keeping my thoughts to myself, but that doesn’t solve the heart problem. What we […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat If I Don’t “Feel” Thankful?
“I have a hard time with gratitude.” Do you ever hear that? Seems like a common lament, especially around Thanksgiving. It’s like people think they should feel more grateful, and they don’t, so they feel guilty about not feeling grateful. So now there’s the guilt as well as the lack of gratitude. We’re really good […]
Continue readingMore TagAll You Need Is Love?
I’ve been pondering 1 John for several weeks. Frankly, it’s been a bit frustrating. I’m trying to understand why the writer goes on and on about love. I get that love is a big deal. It’s the big deal. But it feels like the letter goes around and around this same topic. I figure I […]
Continue readingMore TagGoing Beyond The Words
I’m an impatient reader. It’s a curious weakness, and it doesn’t matter much what kind of material I’m reading. I might begin with good intentions, but as soon as I start reading I find myself looking for the end. This bad habit makes studying difficult. I blast through the words, but often realize I’ve little […]
Continue readingMore TagIs This A Broken Promise?
Can a promise mean something bigger than you imagined? On last June’s Front Range FREEDOM Tour we had the opportunity to participate in worship at First Presbyterian Church in Pueblo. The sermon reminded me of an evening a few years ago when Becky and I were invited to speak at a local church’s “family movie […]
Continue readingMore TagA Garden Parable
Note: I published this parable last week over at Rich’s Ride. I’m re-posting here, with some edits, because I’d love to know your thoughts. What if the Kingdom is as simple as seeds planted by a Master Gardener? The seeds sprout and become the plants they were destined to become. They produce their particular fruit. […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat If It’s Not Complicated?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets […]
Continue readingMore TagHow Can God Care About Little Stuff?
It was a feel-good article titled The Mystery Man At Miller Park. Brief summary: a mom thanked an anonymous young man who went out of his way to make her son feel special during a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. The article included this blessing: When my wiped-out children were tucked into bed last night, I […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat To Do When You Mess Up
Apparently it’s the season for public scandal. Politicians, athletes, and media figures seem to be lining up to provide the latest highly visible lapse in personal or professional judgment. Personal indiscretions, performance enhancing drugs, political cover-ups—if not for the tragic consequences, the stream of indignities would be laughable. It’s like a reality TV competition—How Low […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat’s Your Message?
This writing thing is an interesting process. I used to worry about what I’d write. Sometimes I’d build a plan, figuring I’d worry less if I knew what I was going to write about. But often I found myself torturing the plan because it didn’t make sense when I actually started writing. These days I […]
Continue readingMore TagWho Do You Say I Am?
A while back I led a small group discussion for new believers at church. It was perfect for me, since mostly our conversation was about questions. I’m good at questions, as long as I don’t have to know the answers. I recently received an invitation to repeat the process. Looking back at some of the […]
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