It’s Always the Shame As a pastor, I’ve discovered that many people are dying slowly in a secret tomb of shame. Some are ashamed of their poor financial condition, plagued with guilt about their irresponsible spending and debt. Others are ashamed about sexual sin from their past. Many carry extreme guilt with them into their…
Speaking Sweetly in the Sorrow
She has been one of my dearest friends for over twenty-five years. Marlene was one of my bridesmaids. When her dress arrived two sizes too small, she wrapped herself in plastic wrap and cut calories for five days! That’s a true friend! She really is one of a kind. She used to be a hippie…
When We Ask Why, God? Why?
The answer to our whys may be obvious now, or they may never be answered in our lifetime. But even if we knew why, it’s likely we wouldn’t be satisfied with the answers anyway. We ask God why, believing the answer will provide us with some kind of deep soul satisfaction. But too often, we…
Run Toward the Fear: Run Toward the Roar
I am fascinated by the way lions hunt. I’ve read that it’s the lionesses that actually do the “lion’s share” of the work. The males are obviously incredibly intimidating, with their manes and their ferocious roars, but it’s the chicks you really have to watch out for. The fact that lionesses do not have a…
Seize Your Opportunities
Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of Heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I…
Journal, Pray, Reflect, and Connect with God
Editor’s note: Have you heard about The Weekly Prayer Project? It’s part book, part journal with a challenge to spend 52 weeks in prayer and daily Bible meditation. It’s a fantastic way to connect with God, pray, reflect, and journal our prayer journeys. The topics in The Weekly Prayer Project are centered around 7 different…
Training Vs. Trying
The Truth About Spiritual Disciplines Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer Imagine a group of people coming to your home and interrupting your Twinkie-eating, TV-watching routine with an urgent message: “Good news! We’re from the United States Olympic Committee. We have been looking for someone to run the marathon in…
Living Loved
I can’t expect any other person to be my soul oxygen. I can’t live as if my next breath depends on whether or not they give me enough air for my lungs not to be screaming in pain. Because here’s the thing. People don’t mind doing CPR on a crisis victim, but no person is…
Cyber Sabbath
Let me ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer as honestly as you can. You should never lie to anyone, but remember, I’m a pastor, so it’s even worse if you lie to me. (I’d hate for lightning to strike you where you’re sitting and leave just the charred remains of…
Jesus Has Entered the Building
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does…