I recently had coffee with a pastor who was bemoaning the fact that his congregation was stuck in the doldrums. He complained to me about their absence passion and lack of motivation which he blamed this on busyness and the lack of margin in their...
Walter Brueggemann, eminent Old Testament scholar wrote, “The Christian life is not an accomplishment or an achievement, it’s a gift by the one who is able to give good gifts.”The thing is, this all depends on us conceding that everything originates with and is initiated...
“The Christian life is not an accomplishment or an achievement, it’s a gift by the one who is able to give good gifts.”~ Walter Brueggemann The thing is, this all depends on our receiving – upon us accepting that everything originates with and is initiated by...
There was a time when James Brown could sing, “This is a man’s world…”, and be right. But today things are different. It’s now a lot less clear just how to be a man in this new world. Things like the toxic masculinity debate, movements...
What’s happened to Christmas? Commercial superficiality has intruded on this once hallowed celebration and hollowed it out. All that’s left is a non-stop shopping binge and way too many obligatory holiday events to attend, leaving all but the most ardent Yuletide devotees, worn out and...
Do you know what we’re asking when you pray, “Come Holy Spirit”?Do you understand just how risky it is? It seems safe enough. It’s a prayer spoken in lots of churches these days. But do we know what we’re getting ourselves into? Do we realize we’re...
What if you were stripped of all the props and scaffolding that make you feel good about yourself and your life? Would you become angry and miserable and stop trusting God or would you still serve him with all your heart? My wife and I were...
We can’t see mysteries, we can only trust them… One of the hardest, if not thehardest thing for me to believe is God’s providence in everything that takes place in life. By providence I mean recognizing God’s will in everything that happens to me and in...
Can you be too religious for your own good? Yes! We all know people who seem to be so religious that they’re impossible to be around. They’re devoted, obedient, sincere and absolutely unbearable! On the other hand, I’d say you can’t be too human the...
I’m something of a meatball snob, growing up in a Sicilian family and all. And although I’d probably get an argument or two, my wife’s meatballs are the best! She uses all the normal ingredients: ground beef and pork, chopped onions, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, eggs…...