Slow Burn Wrath
A month ago, my wife and I heard a sermon during a weekend trip to New Mexico. The vacation was great. The sermon was horrible. The story was Jesus …
Dishonest Faith
Last September I shared about being diagnosed with kidney cancer. I waited more than a month before posting, mostly to avoid anyone’s pity. (Come on, …
Hearing God in Suffering
Most of my high school friends were obsessed with college-prep, extra-curricular activities, and jobs. Except for one friend. Like a lion, he …
Forgiving Betrayers
A couple of years ago, I shared a story of betrayal. I ended the article with a faint desire to forgive. But wanting to forgive doesn’t doesn’t …
Are We Chasing Trivial Pursuits?
I need to change my life for the better. Like working on healthier thinking, or a more gracious attitude, or better diet and exercise. (My family …
The First Time I Heard God Speak
I was ten years old the first time I heard God speak. It was autumn, a new school year had just begun, and a new fad was spreading among my adolescent …
When Your Desires Are Thwarted
Spiritual retreats have significantly impacted my life. During a retreat, something shifts in my heart, like a ratchet rotates it one way and it won’t …
My Dreaded Psalm
Years ago I created a plan that takes me through all the Psalms three times a year by reading about twenty verses a day. (You can download a copy of …
Information or Intimacy?
Over thirty years ago, I stumbled upon a 60 Minutes episode in which Mike Wallace interviewed an MIT computer science nerd. He had a tiny …
When Obedience Doesn’t Make Sense
My family moved to Detroit the summer between my first and second grade. Tommy was the first friend I met. Like me, his dad was a pastor; but unlike …
Striving for Spiritual Impact
A few months ago, I mentioned that I had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. The treatment involved five uncomfortable procedures, but the recovery was …
The Long Neglected Spiritual Gift
In many Christian circles there is controversy over the use (or even the existence) of some of the spiritual gifts. But almost everyone agrees that …