Having spent 8 years as a youth minister I often spoke with students who were either worried about their relationships because they didn’t know if the person they were interested in was “the one” OR (probably more often) that the person they were SURE God had picked for them hadn’t gotten memo and was refusing to date them. Over and over I had to tell them: “I’m sorry, but you don’t have a soul-mate. God hasn’t picked out one special person... Read more

I remember when I was first getting into ministry a mentor of mine told me that the chief responsibility of any minister was first and foremost to teach people how to pray. At the time I thought that was odd. I had always assumed that ministry was more about preaching sermons, organizing worship, meeting with people in need, and studding the Bible. However, as time has gone on I have realized more and more that there was a lot of... Read more

When I was a kid, I was taught a lot of things by rote: The Alphabet The colors of the rainbow The pledge of allegiance The Planets (although the list I learned is now outdated) US States and capitals The multiplication table You know the drill. You are given the right information which you repeat over and over until it sticks. This approach was even used to teach me about prayer. I was taught the Lord’s Prayer in the same... Read more

Prayer is both one of the most basic as well as one of the most complicated parts of human spirituality. It’s something that my 2 year old has enough of an understanding of to do himself, and yet it is also something that I (after studying it for nearly a decade at four different universities), still feel like I am just getting to know. It’s complexity is not due to it’s methodology, but rather it’s subject matter. Prayer deals with... Read more

If you hadn’t heard Dallas Willard has died. He has been an influential voice in my life at times. In honor of his life devoted to Theology, Philosophy, and his Lord I offer this video. May his memory be eternal Read more

Did you know that the cathedral of Otranto in southern Italy is decorated with the skulls of 800 Christians who were beheaded by Ottoman soldiers in 1480? (yes they are REAL SKULLS) Well you should because next Sunday, May 12, they will become the skulls of saints, Pope Francis is canonizing all of them. He will instantly break the record for the pope who has created the most saints. Wow!  You can read more about it here, in a great article by Damian Thompson  Read more

Today is Easter in many of the Eastern Churches. i thought this compilation of Eastern Resurrection hymns was just about the most amazing thing I have ever heard and need to share it with you all. Read more

The first time I went to a Catholic church I felt pretty confused. People were standing, bowing, genuflecting, crossing themselves, dipping their fingers in holy water, lighting candles, raising their hands up, Standing and kneeling and standing and kneeling and standing and kneeling. There were prayers in English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. I was amazed that everyone seemed to know what they were doing… “Wow!” I thought, Catholic Worship is COMPLICATED! I didn’t even know the half of it! Now... Read more

I recently got into a discussion over infant baptism with a few of my friends and readers on Facebook. It was all stared by a blogger who argued that those of us who practice infant baptism are basically destroying the church. Saying, and I quote (emphasis mine): “Do you hold and believe in infant baptism? Then you destroy all opportunity of Christian unity. You govern your local church, if you are spiritual leader, by some other standard than God’s Word,... Read more

I’m not sure you saw this video where it seems a women on argues that reason somehow led to the Holocaust. It’s been making it’s way around the internet. I thought I would post it because it reflects a very Strange dichotomy between Faith and Reason. SOMEHOW people were offended that some Atheists were honoring reason on the same day that was dedicated to prayer. But WHY should reason offend us? Reason is a great gift from God! Here are... Read more