Actually trying these things lets you in on a new reality buried right here in the midst of this one. Jesus called it the kingdom of heaven.
Can We Talk?
Dealing with conflict is no picnic. But the damage caused by refusing to talk to each other is wreaking havoc and I can’t stay silent.
Five Reasons the Church Should Support Recovery Groups
Twelve-step groups are not the church. And this is a great reason why the church should support them.
Why the Church Needs Feminism (Part 6)
There are three common mistakes that churches make that provide safe havens for abusers and re-victimize the vulnerable time and time again.
Small Churches and Abilene Christian University Summit
I first attended Abilene Christian University Lectureship when I was a freshman Bible major in February 1986. This was back when they still put up the big tent on the other side of Edwards Dormitory.
Believe or Belong: Which Comes First?
Rather than holding to a set of convictions that properly constitute a faithful Christian, Christianity is more about an orientation toward following Jesus Christ.
Seeing with Godly Eyes (Part 2)
Sometimes you have grown so used to the problems that you don’t see them anymore: that squeaky door, the quirky light switch that just won’t seem to work right, the overgrown yard.
Surprise! A Spiritual Discipline
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.