I equally love and hate surprises. If I sense somewhere in my gut that somebody is withholding a fun secret from me, it nearly drives me crazy.
Envy at Church
The very people who have the greatest possibility of being close to us are the ones we are most likely to envy.
Eat Slowly and Enjoy
In most of our consumption, whether food, Netflix, media, or people, we quickly ingest without taking the time to appreciate the experience.
The Greatest Gift
The greatest gift a parent can give a child is permission to become the person God created him or her to be.
Helping Your Prodigals to Come Home … and Stay Home
We often assume our prodigals will know how to stay clean from their addictions, stop hurting people, and be an active participant in the life of our church.
It's Time to Get out of the Car
I recently tried a sad kind of experiment. I tried to see if I can make it 24 hours without hearing a body shaming or food shaming comment.
Australian Jesus and the Boomerang of Judgment
We shouldn’t be judgmental, right? Saturday morning cartoons and countless sitcoms have taught us as much.
Tension at the Threshold: Hospitality and Immigration (Part 3)
Every conversation about hospitality must include boundaries, and every conversation about boundaries must include hospitality.
A Missional Plea for Christian Pacifism
Historically speaking, pacifism appears the unquestioned stance of the New Testament and the early church.
Walking Away from God (1 Kings 17)
There was no food, no money, and no more time. She had enough supplies for one last meal with her son before she would to take their fate into her own hands.
"Catch and Release" - Learning to Live with Loss
In the early years, I was on my own with the losses, fighting the pain every day, watching my life burn to the ground, and compiling a list of grievances against God and the world.
Whatever Happened to Eschatology?
The church has rightly discarded anxious and fearful revivalist eschatologies, but have we replaced them with a healthier perspective? I call us to embrace a biblical view of the last things .
Church on the Pond
If you’ve never stopped long enough to eavesdrop on nature, you’re missing out. That pond was a sanctuary, and the birds and the bullfrogs were the choir.
Tension at the Threshold: Hospitality and Immigration (Part 2)
Fair concerns remain about risk and logistics when it comes to relearning the virtue of Christian hospitality toward immigrants and refugees.
Healthy Small Church Looks Inward and Outward for Purpose
This small congregation’s outward reaching focus remains a central pillar of why they exist
Learning to Speak "Basset Hound" or What we Lost in the Fire
Only when the adrenaline rush is over can we begin to count our losses: the things we can’t replace and the fire’s impact on us: mind, body, and soul.
The Lorica of Saint Patrick
As one clothed in Christ, who we are is redefined by who Christ is.
Thinking Globally for Renewal!
This shift away from Europe and North America may not have an immediate impact on the church you attend, but I suspect that most of us can already see evidence of the decline.
Laws of the Land and Romans 13
Is it right to follow the current laws and policies of our country, or offer hope and hospitality to immigrants entering our country, whether documented or not?
Extravagant Love
Our lives are not just sustained, they are infused with God’s love that overflows from need to sheer luxuriance.