Jesus' departure from the sanctuary and peace of oneness with the Father must have been like our trial of leaving the zone of safety.
Ministers and Money
He walked away from a life of guaranteed comfort, and walked into the mountains in solitude, before walking back into the church, and behind its pulpit.
Electing to Follow Jesus: Strangers in a Strange Land
One of the fundamental stances we take during an election year (and any year) is that of being strangers in the world. We are strangers in this nation, this culture.
Renewed
This experience had me reflecting on the nature of self-care and what is truly renewing to one’s spirit. I allowed myself to be porous. I removed the protective gear and let God, through creation, restore me.
Rethinking Depression
Depression is one of the most pervasive mental illnesses of our time. Whether you are struggling with depression yourself or know someone who is, depression has likely impacted your life in some form.
What “Field of Dreams” Taught Me about Church
Wouldn’t it be great if we were so locked in to the guidance of the Spirit that nothing could persuade us to cease in our effort to follow where it leads?
What If God Does Not Want Your Candidate to Win?
My King rules today, he will rule after the election, and his will is going to be done no matter who wins. I do want people to know Jesus. And I trust God to do whatever necessary to make that possible.
Electing to Follow Jesus: How to Be a Loser
One of the prevailing sins of American churches is that we claim God can give security in this life, though we have no right to offer such security.
Declaring My Incompetence
I do not deceive myself into thinking that I have ever met that standard for even a minute out of my best ministerial hour, but I am not willing to lower my standard.
Reclaiming Imagination
We must remove our imaginations from the shelves of our childhood. We must imagine a world driven by kingdom living so that we can work together to let that imagination form tomorrow’s reality.
Healthy Responses for Church Leaders: Preserving (not Creating) Unity and the Bond of Peace
Churches of Christ haven’t had a hard time wanting Christian unity, but we have had a difficult time keeping it.
Electing to Follow Jesus: The Gospel of Peter vs. the Gospel of Jesus
You may assume you believe and live the Gospel of Jesus. It would be a bad assumption to make, because we are all so likely to misunderstand and mishandle the gospel that Christ is putting into us.
Is There Anything We Can Do?
Christian community exists when believers connect with each other in authentic and loving ways that encourage growth in Christ.
Not All Problems Are Alike!
Congregational leadership is often comprised of various problems that call for attention—everything from sorting out a new insurance policy to discerning the next step for pursuing God’s mission.
Developing Christlike Character through Self-Denial
This Adamic nature, our innate sinfulness and rebelliousness, is a result of the curse of the Fall of Adam that has plagued the human family since the “original sin”.
Universal Call for Self-Denial
A dividing wall between cultures and worlds and worldviews stands so high that it seems insurmountable. So we shout our slogans, and defend whatever positions of power we might hold.
Electing to Follow Jesus: Claiming Our Baggage
We never come to a conversation without baggage. Name it and claim it--you have baggage, too. We're always dragging our stuff with us, and that’s expected, but revealing it saves trouble along the way.
Clean and Unclean: A Contemporary Christian Conversation
Richard Beck explains the often-irrational reactions to things (and people) we perceive as "unclean."
Preaching When Words Are Cheap
We are now utterly inundated by insincere, dollar-faced words, to such an extent that we can’t always distinguish between words of authenticity and the words of a sales pitch.
How to Be Pastoral in a Rancorous Political Season
In the current election season I have felt a pressing need to address the people of God and urge them to speak and act in a way that represents Jesus.