Like a gem set in a crown, this important character quality sparkles throughout the New Testament. It’s mentioned in letters addressed to a young pastor, it's part of an oft-quoted passage on the peace of God, and it's part of the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus himself exemplified it better than anyone. Yet this characteristic, so vital for every Christian, is highly under-rated in our snarky culture. When was the last time you heard a sermon expounding the importance of gentleness? According to the Bible, gentleness is not the same as being a wimp. A quick word study in a few Continue Reading

You just heard someone in your small group lost a parent to cancer.  A family down the street lost their house in a fire.  Your friend’s son, who had been dealing drugs, has disappeared. Hard things happen on this sin-sick planet, and when they do, our response can make all the difference for the suffering ones. Here are some helpful suggestions for what to say and do when tragedy strikes: Be present. Expressing your concern via social networking is a good first step, but don’t leave it at that. Your physical presence, or even the sound of your voice on the phone, can bring a comfort Continue Reading

The late afternoon sky filled with billowing smoke as the spreading grass fire gobbled     its way across the canyon wall, blackening the hillside. Watching from across the  valley, I thought of the warning in James chapter 3 about our words. “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness … staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell … no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Wow, that seems harsh. Are we really that out of control Continue Reading

It was once part of common courtesy, but nowadays we are too distracted by a million responsibilities, too casual in our interactions to realize we often ignore this most important thing. We fail to see the people we love. By “see,” I don’t just mean having our eyeballs briefly register that someone is present. I mean “see” as Native American and other indigenous cultures mean it.  As in, focusing intentionally on the person-hood of another. Remember the scene in Dances with Wolves where the warrior shouts his heartfelt goodbye to the white man he has come to know and trust? I see Continue Reading