“We’re being saved by someone we cannot and never will see.” In a way, that describes the Christian faith, and I have to admit that at first glance it sounds ridiculous. Being saved? What is “being saved” all about? Christians talk about being saved, but what do we mean? Saved from what? And saved byContinue reading “When following Jesus seems to make no sense…think about Oreos”
Monthly Archives: May 2018
4 pieces of advice to those who are suffering
Have you ever suffered specifically because you are a Christian? I don’t know that I have, at least not in ways that would be considered significant suffering, or suffering that led to bodily harm or loss of opportunity or privilege. Yesterday, I related a story from author Scot McKnight who counseled a teenager who didContinue reading “4 pieces of advice to those who are suffering”
Satan did not break my lawn mower
Are any of you suffering? Any of you going through a hard time? How does it feel? Lonely, right? Maybe you feel people just don’t understand. Or your suffering might be ongoing, and you feel you are a burden to the people around you. You worry about that, and your worry only compounds the suffering.Continue reading “Satan did not break my lawn mower”
How to have an inheritance that cannot be squandered
Michelle and I both had grandparents pass away in the last few years, and we have watched our parents and their siblings handle their parents’ estates. Sometimes inheritances are smooth and easy. Sometimes they are a bit complex. One time Faith Church received a bequest from a parishioner who passed away, and it took nearlyContinue reading “How to have an inheritance that cannot be squandered”
How we can know that hope is alive
Last week I did a search on our local website, as I was looking for the word “hope” in the news. You know what I discovered? Hope is a very flexible word, used many ways for many situations. Here are a few of the recent headlines. Maybe you remember some of them! First, here areContinue reading “How we can know that hope is alive”
Why being “born again” might not be as crazy as it sounds
It is cringe-worthy. I admit it. Being born again? It just sounds weird, not to mention the baggage associated with “Born Againers” in our society. My guess is that most people don’t know what it means to be born again. Or they believe born-againers are fundamentalistic, and therefore, mean, jugdmental and harsh. But being bornContinue reading “Why being “born again” might not be as crazy as it sounds”
Embracing Your Daughter’s Killer: The Freedom of Radical Forgiveness (Betwixt Podcast)
I am so thankful to my friend Deb Gregory for the wonderful podcast she created, Betwixt. I encourage you to subscribe, listen from the beginning and learn about the wonders of liminal space. I am also thankful that on her most recent episode, Deb featured my story! You can listen to the episode here. IContinue reading “Embracing Your Daughter’s Killer: The Freedom of Radical Forgiveness (Betwixt Podcast)”
We really need grace
Do you or anyone you know go by a nickname? I love the band U2, and both the lead singer Bono and lead guitarist, The Edge, go by the nicknames. Bono has said on numerous occasions that even The Edge’s mom calls him “The Edge”. But I wonder how many people with a nickname referContinue reading “We really need grace”
Can you smell what The _____ is cooking? (When Jesus give you a nickname and changes your life.)
Can you tell whom I’m thinking about? Read the title of this post. Look at the picture. The Rock! That is Dwayne Johnson’s nickname from his days as a professional wrestler. There seems to be a specific kind of person whom we nickname with the word “Rock”. Think about Rocky Balboa. Remember the character SylvesterContinue reading “Can you smell what The _____ is cooking? (When Jesus give you a nickname and changes your life.)”
When I visited other churches (What I Learned on Sabbatical, Part 4)
One of the most frequent questions I got before going on sabbatical was, “Where will you go to church?” When I asked people what they thought I should do about church, they had many responses. Some people suggested I take a break, which is essentially the definition of sabbatical. I seriously considered not going toContinue reading “When I visited other churches (What I Learned on Sabbatical, Part 4)”
Engaging Scripture 