Is The Prodigal Son The Story of Mary And Martha?
[Click here for an audio version of the post.] A friend once told me that some early Christians thought the story of the Prodigal Son was really the …
growing in God's love
Is It Ever Okay To Seek An Experience of God?
When I was thirteen years old, I had an “experience” of God. It happened in a small, circular prayer meeting with about twenty other teenagers. I …
I Long To Live My Life As An Artist
A friend of mine challenged me to adopt—perhaps embrace—a Transcendent Pursuit for the coming year, something life changing, something I can bring to …
Why Do Even Our Best Things Fail To Bring Joy?
[To listen to a reading of this article, click here.] Most people we meet have a skill (or character trait or accomplishment) of which they are …
Might Morality Be The Greatest Obstacle to Christianity?
A year or so ago, a Christian friend described how he was beginning to bring the gospel his softball team. He had joined the local league that …
What About When Life Overwhelms You?
[To listen to a reading of this article, click here.] I hate leaving for trips, but I also—sometimes—hate returning. There is so much to do. There are …
Where Is The Battlefield in Spiritual Warfare?
I love having a new laptop but I hate getting a new laptop. It takes me a couple days to transfer my old data, reinstall the applications, and setup …
Leaders: Let’s Not Believe Our Own Press Clippings
Years ago my brother Andy told me how he met the Lord. His ninth grade locker partner Kevin was the school drug dealer. Then Kevin had a bad trip on …
Today I Heard God Tell Me, “You Dah Man”
Years ago I worked with a man who had an insatiable desire to impress. When he gave presentations, he never used a one-syllable word when a …
I Think Hidden Beliefs Are Crippling Most Believers
Consider with me how the Garden of Eden was lost. The serpent said, “God knows that when you eat [the forbidden fruit] …, you will be like God” (Gen. …
The Calling Driven church – Putting Meat on the Bones
Several readers raised questions in response to, I Long for a Calling Driven church. The key questions (so far) are: What does it look like to “hear” …
Filling the Void[ance]
My father taught me that discovering our true selves cannot be had by merely avoiding negative behavior we see in others. But herein lays an irony: …