4. Spiritual anxiety is fed by an emphasis on wealth and status. The message should be clear: material wealth, the latest technology has to offer, creature comforts—none of them can satisfy the spiritual needs we were created with. And an over-reliance on them can actually hurt us. You can everything in the world to liveContinue reading “It’s a Jungle Out There (Anxiety & Faith, pt. 4)”
Category Archives: Coming to God
Clutter, clutter everywhere . . .
If you dump a box of toys in front of a toddler, many of them will just give you a quizzical look. But if you give them just a toy or two they are able to focus on it, engage their imagination, and in no time they’re having a great time. That’s because sometimes less isContinue reading “Clutter, clutter everywhere . . .”
Hello August
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to BethlehemContinue reading “Hello August”
A Picture Of Prayer
The story of Hezekiah can be found in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 29-32. Hezekiah was a good man who lived during a bad time. Nonetheless, he stood for God and made sweeping religious reforms in Israel’s worship. He went after the high places (often neglected by other “good” kings), sacred stones, and Asherah poles. He evenContinue reading “A Picture Of Prayer”
Too Wonderful For Me
I’ve come to realize as an innumerable host of people have, that I can’t begin to fully fathom, appreciate, or explain how great our Father’s love is for us. It’s like the size of the universe—I understand at some simplistic level that it would take at least 92 billion light years to travel from oneContinue reading “Too Wonderful For Me”
Thinking About The Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is one of the core beliefs of the Christian faith. As such, it has profound implications for us. Here are three. 1. Our body is an essential art of our identity. There’s a little saying that goes something like this: We’re not human beings on a spiritual journey,Continue reading “Thinking About The Resurrection”
Reflecting On The Death Of Jesus (2)
Though He died the death of a common criminal by being crucified on a cross, there was nothing common about Jesus’ death. The gospels zero in on this uniqueness: Matthew writes, “When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit,” (27:50). Luke records, “Jesus called out in a loudContinue reading “Reflecting On The Death Of Jesus (2)”
Reflecting On The Death Of Jesus (1)
When we touch the cross, we put our finger on the pulse of the universe. We touch something that is warm, alive, and vital. Yet it is also holy, arguably the holiest ground of all. With that in mind, I invite us to take off our sandals and approach the cross in reverence, awe, andContinue reading “Reflecting On The Death Of Jesus (1)”
Wearing God Down
There’s a popular belief that if disciples pray hard enough about something and with enough faith, it will happen. After all, didn’t Jesus say something about having faith and moving mountains? Therefore, if we just get enough people with enough faith to pray hard enough about something, God will give us our heart’s desire—right? ChurchContinue reading “Wearing God Down”
Embracing The Ordinary
I’d like to say a few words in defense of the ordinary. It seems that in our single-minded pursuit of the extraordinary, the unbelievable, and the jaw-dropping, we have somehow lost sight of the value of the ordinary. Consider the following: Be original, not ordinary. It only takes a little extra to turnContinue reading “Embracing The Ordinary”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 