Pursuing a holistic expression of Christian faith that is true to the Bible and applicable for today’s world.
In an earlier post, I talked about fasting. I admitted that despite the spiritual benefits—while tangible and profound—fasting is a mystery to me. I also shared that the most difficult part of my fast was ending it well. From a physical sense, when that initial morsel of food touches my tongue, I am often filled […]
I’m doing a series of posts about the short and often overlooked book of Jude. Jude’s letter is a warning, almost a rant, about ungodly people who are in the church. Among their sordid characteristics, Jude says that they “speak abusively against whatever they do not understand.” That seems to be an accurate description of […]
What is your favorite verse in the Bible? Is it John 3:16? That seems to be one commonly cited. Or perhaps, it’s commonly cited, only because it is the only one people know. As a teen, just to be contrary and catch people off guard, I would claim that my favorite verse was John 3:17. […]
Last August, I went on a 24-hour prayer retreat. I had scheduled it at the beginning of summer, picking the optimum day amongst a calendar of prior commitments and a busy work schedule. I anticipated the day with much excitement but some trepidation, looking forward to what God would have in store for me as […]
Early church leader James wrote, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” It seems that to James, a faith without action is worthless. His statement, however, did not end this debate between faith and works. In fact, he seems to allow at least the possibility of […]
A few weeks ago, I posited, “everything is spiritual.” This idea did not originate with me, nor is it a new one, but it is worthy of adoption as a personal outlook on life, a guiding perspective. Following that thought, I view all writing as spiritual, too. Writing can be a good spiritual or a […]
Two weeks ago, I asked what is worship? I acknowledged that for many people, worshiping God is singing songs to him or about him. To some, worshiping God may be no more watching other people sing. For me, worshiping is seldom about singing. Raised in a church that exclusively used a pipe organ to play […]
What Are You Going to do About It? How often have you heard someone exclaim, “It’s not fair!”? This lament seems especially prevalent among children and teens. When this complaint is voiced to their parents, the typical response—be it sage or sadistic—is “Life’s not fair.” It’s true; life’s not fair—and I, for one, am glad. […]
When I drive by a church there’s usually a sign telling when they meet. The word “worship” often come right before it. While I fully understand what they mean, I’m more than a bit troubled by the gross misuse of that word. Stating that worship is at 10 a.m. on Sunday, sends the strong message. […]
A friend recently introduced me to two highfalutin, but insightful phrases: Apophatic Prayer and Kataphatic Prayer. Kataphatic Prayer is praying using words, thoughts, and images. Apophatic Prayer is prayer without words, thoughts, and images. Another explanation—often credited to Eugene Peterson, but which I’ve not yet confirmed—is that Apophatic Prayer is praying with your eyes closed, […]