The same power that raised Jesus from the dead has raised us to new life. And we are changing, becoming righteous by that power.
All in Discipleship
The Melody of Our Hearts: Praying the Psalms
The Psalms teach us to battle with God, praise God, thank God, scream at God, and feel with God.
The Blessing of Blessing
What would it mean if parents, youth leaders, children’s ministers, and whoever else wants to, took seriously the idea of blessing?
But Why, Daddy?
As Christians, we are often uncomfortable with ambiguity, yet God welcomes our questions like he welcomes the little children into his midst.
Consider the Birds
The kingdom of God isn’t just something small that grows large. It’s a tree where birds come to build their nests.
I Am a Big Brother
When I say I am a big brother, I’m not speaking only in relation to my little sister. Rather, I am a big brother in a Luke 15 kind of way.
All Scripture Is Inspired, and All Scripture Matters
If all Scripture is inspired and is profitable for our life as Christians, then perhaps we should not try and decide which section of Scripture is most important.
Discipleship or Spiritual Formation? Time to Embrace One and Shelve the Other
Spiritual formation is a good and helpful way of describing our faith development. Discipleship calls us deeper.
Why All Dogs Do Go to Heaven
When I was younger and thought I knew much more than I actually did, I thought it silly when people would talk about animals as if they had a divine spark to them.
Rhythm
Daffodils push up through snow and icicles drip from tiny, chartreuse tree leaves.
Green grass burns in heat while lantanas flourish.
Celebration and Suffering: Psalm 22
To appreciate what hope means, we need a word of wisdom about our human condition that is more ancient than our American culture in the 21st century.
Waiting for Easter
I wonder what Jesus’s followers did in the long hours between the death and resurrection. It was only a couple of days, but it likely felt like an eternity.
Building Walls, but Opening the Gates of Joy
Ministry requires us to build some walls in order to survive. But one of the walls we must build is that of joy.
Seeing Sticks Underwater
In a blink the beaver can see what we cannot. These high tech goggles allow him to swim toward what is hidden beneath the surface.
Running on Fumes: Soul Care for Spiritual Leaders
Too often spiritual leaders spend so much time helping others that they neglect their own spiritual growth and renewal.
Rejection Therapy
If we are transformed people who love Jesus, we absolutely must show people how to handle conflict, irritation, personality conflicts, and whatever else makes us want to escape personal rejection.
A Salute to Mr. Pauline, A Hood Hero
Mr. Pauline inspired his students and basketball players to be Black and proud. Mr. Pauline was passionate about raising a nation of young people who were smart, disciplined, and self-aware.
Building Walls in Order to Build Walls
Nehemiah constantly faced outside pressure from opponents and inside issues from coworkers. He persisted, but he probably had to build some walls of his own.
Call Failed
As ministers, we are called to counsel those who are experiencing a prayer life full of “dropped calls.”
Minimum-Security Monastery
These moments of silence got me thinking about two kinds of people who live in cells: inmates and monks. So what if I could help these inmates see this jail as a monastery?