Gaining a heart of wisdom
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
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
Rest is a radical practice. In our hyper-scheduled culture that worships productivity, it's easy to slip into a negative attitude toward those who promote a more rest-filled lifestyle, but The Radical Pursuit of Rest is not seeking to add one more thing -- resting! -- to the already full do-list. Author and professor John Koessler asserts that rest… Continue reading Rest: A Remedy, a Relief, and a Gift
People and books reserve the right to surprise us, and it's a real delight when both happen at the same time. I opened the pages of Barbara Hughes's book expecting the equivalent of a heart-to-heart over a mug of steaming tea, an open Bible and a warm sharing of practices that have held us close to… Continue reading Strength Training for Countercultural Women
There are times when our kids surprise us -- or even surpass us -- with their insight. This was certainly the case with my youngest son: "It's too much," he said. "I've got all this music to learn for honors band. I'm buying a sheep. I want to work with Cyprus (his 4-H heifer). I'm… Continue reading Peace and Purpose in a World of Crazy
"God spends the day elsewhere, but He sleeps in Rwanda." This may be a popular saying in that East African country, but my view of Rwanda has been shaped by 1990's era news reports of violence, genocide, and war. Jonathan David Golden has spent a few nights in Rwanda himself, and the result of that… Continue reading Created to Make a Difference
In matters of relationship, a teaspoonful of doing is worth more than a bushel- basket full of knowing. We've all read Dobson and Chapman and Eggerichs until we've become so accountable before God with all our knowledge that we are clearly without excuse. So, while it's become a tired cliché, it is no less true: … Continue reading 10 Words to Consider Before Becoming a Husband
In the every day of my walking-around life, heart and mind collaborate. Putting a note in my patient husband's lunch communicates love, but, in my case, it is likely to be motivated by knowledge: he's having a rough week; he did something terrific that I want to thank him for; the day ahead holds special… Continue reading The Apostles’ Creed for the 21st Century
Pastor and author Kyle Idleman did an informal survey via social media with just one question. "Finish this sentence: Jesus became real when . . ." The hundreds of responses he received, some general ("I had no one else to turn to.") and some specific ("My husband was killed in a car accident."), could be… Continue reading Filling Empty Things
