Gaining a heart of wisdom
We don't know who he was because he didn't sign his name. Was it fear that drove this anonymity in an age of persecution? Or was it humility? When we studied Hebrews 7, we marveled together at the author's ability to connect the dots between Melchizedek and Jesus, our High Priest forever, based on… Continue reading The Heart of Faith
Students had assembled for an October chapel service as several dozen faculty members strode to the front of the Great Hall bearing symbols of their work -- a laser in the hands of a physicist, clay in the hands of an artist, spreadsheets borne by an economist. Each offering was placed on the stage, transforming… Continue reading The Practice of Listening
There's nothing like summer fun on the scenic shores of a lake: sand between the toes, an afternoon spent face-down in the clear, cold water, tiny fish peering back at you through your goggles. Irish Beth Maddock celebrates the beauty of the creatures that God has made through the eyes of Paul and Beth, a brother… Continue reading A Fish Story for the Whole Family
In a decision that somehow manages to seem both arbitrary and precise, the Council of Nicaea met in 325 A.D. and determined that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or after the first day of spring. Easter and spring are also holding hands in Anne… Continue reading Gifts of Easter
The patient husband and I have challenged ourselves to be more purposeful in our practice of hospitality this year -- to "meet the stranger at the gate" in our own little rural setting by inviting someone new and different into our home each month. January was wonderful! We enjoyed an evening with a couple we've… Continue reading The Glorious Right Angle
We refer to them as "spiritual disciplines," and then we stiffen our upper lip -- all the while fumbling tentatively for our boot straps. Then, we proceed to dismiss the more rigorous of the lot (fasting, meditation) as pertinent only to high-power spiritual giants, and it turns out that we've got the wrong idea after all,… Continue reading Habits of Grace
If the last book of the Bible is an intimidating peak, unclimbed and unchallenged, The Heart of Revelation is a succession of ten handholds to expedite your ascent. If John's apocalyptic words are a map, J. Scott Duvall has provided bearings, a sense of direction, an aerial view of the terrain. His ten essential themes… Continue reading 10 Reasons Why You Should Study the Revelation
Living on this country hill, it's easy to feel as if I'm a throw back to an earlier time. My clothesline and my garden; the rows of canning jars full of colorful vegetables and homemade spaghetti sauce in the furnace room; the daily task of sweeping the bark and wood chips off the floor around the wood… Continue reading A Gift for All Times
At times, the Apostle Paul's words are so emphatic that I picture him jumping up from his seat and speaking them out loud to whomever is in the room. For instance, these words from Romans 8:31 in The Message: "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?"… Continue reading Little Is Much
Traveling to over forty different countries, meeting church leaders who are, at times, risking their lives in the course of doing ministry, and hearing their unique challenges and joys can be an exhausting prospect. Fortunately, Brian Stiller has logged all the travel time, and he has shared his unique experiences and insights in An Insider's Guide to Praying… Continue reading Intercede with Greater Focus and Understanding
Living Our Days 