For as long as religion as existed, people have been renaming God according to their own understanding. This isn’t heresy–this is growth! Recently, when we spoke at our father’s funeral, my brother and I shared all the good things we remembered about him. And there was so much to say about a man who loved his family and served his country for decades. I was surprised at all the people that I had never met, who came out to... Read more
A reflection on father-son time with my little boy, who’s all grown now. As with God, it’s about spending quality time, not end results. Here’s a picture of my 6-year-old son Daniel with his fishing rod seventeen years ago. We went fishing at a local lake from about 9 PM to midnight. I had recently gotten some new lures and wanted to try them out. Most of my fishing experience has been with either cut bait or live bait, so... Read more
Jesus said to let your light shine—but that doesn’t mean outshining others. Lao Tzu suggests using the dimmer switch. Where’s the balance? Dimming your own light doesn’t mean putting your candle under a bushel. It means being just bright enough, but not so much that you keep others from glowing as well. Taoist and Christian sages agree that balance is the key. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Verse 24 J.H. McDonald Version Those who stand on tiptoes... Read more
“Have you received the gift of tongues?” many Pentecostals and Charismatics want to know. But they’re asking the wrong question. What they mean is, “Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?” But if they’re asking another Christian, that’s the wrong question as well. The problem is that often, these sincere believers think that the two are the same thing. And, they mistake this gift that God gives freely for a second blessing that only some Christians receive. Pentecost... Read more
Most people say that Easter is the highest observance of the Christian calendar. Yet, Christ’s ascension is more theologically compelling. In the incarnation, God identifies with humanity by becoming one of us. As Jesus suffers martyrdom on a Roman cross, he embodies God’s love even for those who make themselves enemies. At the resurrection, Jesus demonstrates victory over death and foreshadows a promised resurrection of the saints. But Christ’s ascension marks the apex of his ministry. For this reason, I... Read more
Are there measurable outcomes as you live out your faith and share it with others? How does God measure effective lives and ministries? In your job, you likely have certain expectations that your company expects you to meet. If you work on an assembly line, your employer measures your performance based on how many units you can generate per hour. If you are a medical professional, your evaluation may be based on how many patients you see and their... Read more
Members of the world’s religions disagree on the name for God. I suggest “The Host” as a divine name upon which we can all agree. In a world of religions divided by theology and terminology, wouldn’t it be nice to agree on something? Renaming God as “The Host” can be a source of mutual conversation. Certainly, every tradition has its unique and distinct titles for the Eternal One. But if we want some commonality, let’s consider adding this one to... Read more
Recently, I buried my father, a Christian patriot who understood the difference between loving God and country, and Christian Nationalism. Born in 1945, Dad grew up in post-war America, with patriotism as the marrow in his bones. As a teenager, he joined the Boy Scouts, eventually earning the prestigious God and Country badge. Dad carried patriotic pride with him as he served his country in Vietnam. He embodied love of country even after he retired from twenty years in the... Read more
Stressful situations can act like storms that threaten to capsize your mental health. Try using emotional anchors to keep yourself steady. Recently, my father passed away. Stress and grief took their toll on me, even before traveling the 3,000 miles to be with family. In my mental discombobulation, I forgot to pack one travel essential I never leave home without—my prayer beads. We arrived at my mother’s house and began preparing ourselves for the funeral and also for the inevitable... Read more
How did Jesus handle fear? He modeled self-control in the face of chaos by getting some breathing space and focusing on achievable tasks. Each day when we watch the news, we find new reasons for fear. Stock market crashes threaten retirement portfolios. DOGE firings make employment feel tenuous. Tariffs promise to make everything more expensive. Wars and rumors of wars abound. But the apostle Paul writes: “…God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self- control (2 Timothy 1:7).” How... Read more
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