What Bible verses come to mind when you think about funerals? I think of John 14:1-4. It’s the one about Jesus preparing many rooms for his followers in his Father’s house. It’s an appropriate use of the passage. It brings us comfort. It encourages us to see those we love in God’s presence. But when this … Read more
I would start with people who are doing it already. Go find the open doors; a chaplain in the local prison, the lady that helps our at the local food pantry, the guy who is always hanging out with the homeless… these champions are out there all the time. Join them in the journey. Take … Read more
The new unreached people group in America is a land called The Margins. These are a people group that have grown up in a land that is vastly unfamiliar from the America I grew up in. The cultural norms for them is a world of violence, sexual exploitation, abandonment, rejection, addiction, poverty, racism, and the … Read more
It was April 2015. I remember the clouds had been gathering for days, just waiting for the chance to break. The Autumn rains are like this, and when it rains, it pours. It was no surprise when the water rose and floods cut us off from the main road. It didn’t surprise me when the … Read more
‘What’s your name? And what do you do for work?’ These are two questions you inevitably get asked when you meet someone. It’s tempting to get all indignant, ’I’m more than just my job,’ but the heart of the question is identity. And it’s worth remembering that identity determines actions, not the other way round. … Read more
Have you ever been let down by a friend? Pick any friendship – in fact, choose your most satisfying friendship – and put it to the test with these questions: Have you ever felt misunderstood? Have you ever been hurt by what the other person said? Have you ever felt that you haven’t been heard? … Read more
Jesus called his followers to spread the word about him. That what we call The Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20). But for so many Christians sharing their faith is such a difficult thing to do. I used to feel like I didn’t know what to say to people. I felt uncertain about my role in evangelism. … Read more
It was during the speeches of the wedding reception I heard the phrase. I cringed on the inside. The groom’s father was speaking. He said, ‘Here’s my words of advice, happy wife, happy life.’ Someone said the phrase in a conversation after church recently. Before I knew it, the words had escaped my mouth, ‘I … Read more
There is a friend of mine who was working as a night security guard. And a second security guard came to him at about 3:00 in the morning and just said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?” It was accusatory, right. So, my friend did not assume what would happen next was going to be, like, … Read more
There’s a book on my shelves about the mystery of God’s will. As Christians aren’t we obsessed about finding God’s will? We follow him, so if we find out what he wants we can do it, right? Our society is driven by the wheels of efficiency. Tasks are the new rulers. Smart phones serve as … Read more