“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
Do you want to teach others to meditate? By following these pro tips, you can help people find peace during these challenging times. Talking with other behavioral health professionals, I’ve found a common thread of clients who could benefit from the tranquility found in meditation. So, I’ve been working on a training that I’ll be delivering at the agency where I work. This isn’t exactly a training on how to meditate, but rather a training on how to teach meditation to others. ... Read more
Christians believe in Christ. Taoists follow the Tao. But Jesus and Lao Tzu demonstrate how to embody the Way of Love completely. There is a tremendous difference between having faith in a belief system and walking in its path. Faith isn’t about ascribing to dogma. Instead, it’s about trusting God and putting flesh to the Tao of Love. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Verse 23 Stephen Mitchell Translation Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces... Read more
April 24th is National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. That’s fine for most children, but not so great for pastor’s kids. I have many memories of my parents taking me to work with them when I was a kid. When sick, I normally went to my mom’s place of employment, as she worked at a pediatric office. My dad invited me to ride in the back of the car as he ran his rural newspaper route. He... Read more
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