I like metaphors, a comparison that helps us understand something we may not yet fully know with something we already know something about. And although I’ve followed God for 52 years, many aspects of him remain hazy, uncertain, even unknowable. But what’s around us can give us some hints, like…
Read MoreSpiritual Anemia--a Fix
A fellow teacher who struggles with anemia posted this on Facebook, “Why am I so exhausted after only teaching two days? Oh boy.” I understand; I taught also. But a more significant anemia is the spiritual one that so infects American Christianity. We lack energy and motivation for the things of God. We care, but not deeply. We serve, but not joyfully. We give, but not sacrificially.
The antidote may be found in a…
Read MoreKeeping Commitments
Anymore, seems like we hesitate to trust others. Crime and road rage rise: can we trust others to be faithful to the laws? Marriages end too often: can we trust our spouses to remain faithful? People break their word: can we trust them to be faithful to their promises? Pastors and members switch…
Read MoreA Balancing Act
Some time back I intentionally opened my Bible to Psalms, and randomly to 86. As a poet (no poems today, sorry!) I appreciated the variety of structures that enhanced the meaning. But verse 11 touched my soul, “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name,” because it gave three requirements of connecting to God and the result. All touch on…
Read MoreBe Good...For Goodness Sake
Christmas may be over, but I still remember the song that claims we should be good because Santa is watching, “you better be good for goodness sake,” or you can’t expect gifts. Among all the sloppy theology I hear, this may top them all. If we do good to benefit ourselves, to get something we want, can we really call that goodness? Sounds like self-centered pragmatism to me. But maybe we can have a better motivation for being good. Maybe desiring goodness shows…
Read MoreBorn in Mud and Blood
True confession time—I’m a bit of a Christmas junkie, and on this, the day after Christmas 2022, I’m not quite ready to give it up. Oh, I know the over-the-top displays like the pic are heading into hibernation, but maybe we can extend it, in the spirit of what the incarnation means. So, think with me on that first one, and how we can live it out…now. In a gritty manner.
Read MoreKind to the Bone--The Spirit's Fruit of Kindness
Remember the old rock song, “Bad to the Bone,” about a guy who bragged his badness went to the core of his being? Let me tell you about another. A real one. At 20, he committed armed robbery and escaped. Two months later he was arrested for fraud, sentenced to three to five years. Upon release at 23, he was arrested for the earlier robbery and sent to Leavenworth. Upon getting out, he joined the army and soon got discharged for having syphilis at 26. At 27 he quickly married a young country girl, got her pregnant and more quickly left, only to marry another young girl two days before his son was born. With no divorce. Once more going to prison. He spent the rest of his life as a con man, dying early at 52 from his syphilis. This dude was bad to the bone. In his wake, he left only loss and deceit and pain. He was my…
Read MoreRain on Them
Last week we examined one of the causes why families and churches and friends get so upset with each other: we primarily try to change people’s behaviors, thinking that living by God’s standards will improve our culture. Yes, it will, but at what cost? We say we want to make disciples, but many nonChristians see it as meddling and turn us off. They become less open to hearing about Jesus. And when Christians attack other Christians over politics…
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