Remember that shy kid in your grammar school class? The timid, sensitive kid who was anxious to follow the rules and get good grades? The last kid you’d go to for help if a bully picked on you? That kid was me. Not that I was apathetic; it’s just that my feelings had a hard time finding their way out of my mouth. It’s like I was wired with perpetual inner conflict between my strong values and my distaste for conflict. Does that sound familiar? The one place I found I could pour out my heart without holding back was with pen and paper. A sixth grade essay, a smattering of Continue Reading
Search Results for: 7 other
This Restriction Will Liberate You
God’s rules are for our good and for his glory. Right. I know this in my head; my heart is a little slower on the uptake. Over the last couple of years, three books I read converged into a perfect storm of theological truth on a very important spiritual law. The one about keeping God’s Sabbath rest. I’m not just talking about petty rules concerning which day to set aside for worship, or what you can and can’t do that day. I’m talking about a lifestyle free from the idol of control. This is a tough one for us, immersed as we are in a culture of constant activity and Continue Reading
Why You Need Less Snark and More of This
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
Six Ways to Help In a Crisis
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