There are at least two thousand known phobias. From Novercaphobia (fear of your step-mother) to Pogonophobia (fear of beards) to Syngenesophobia ( fear of relatives,) there’s a named fear for nearly everything in our lives. But for babies, there are really only two measured fears – fear of falling and a fear of loud noises. Everything after that point is learned. After a stint in my crawl space and another in the attic, I found my fear. Stenophobia, a fear of... Read more
When I was a teen, I worked at a local restaurant as a busboy. It was my job to splash water in tall glasses for each new table, carry plates out for the waitresses and set the tables after each party finished eating. It was hard, honest work and I used the money to fuel my car and fund my pizza habit. I loved the work and the interaction with both staff and customers. Things changed when the boss gave... Read more
If we were super humans with cloaking power and extraordinary strength, we would rely on those powers to get us through. I've been there, relying on my wit, or my brains, or my cleverness to get my through life. And then the pot breaks and I realize I'm not such a hot commodity. We are full of divinity, wrapped in fragility. Brokenness is not an indictment. It's currency. Read more
These are interesting times and the days will grow more evil. Rather than merely tolerating Christians and their "eccentrics", our beliefs are now open game for hostility, confrontation, and ostracization. Jesus said these days would come. He told us to remain devoted to one another in love, to do right in a world committed to wrong, and to be bold. Read more
I believe God is calling his leaders to roar. This is the moment of a generation for leaders to rise up and speak. If there is tyranny, then we need prophets. If there is a need for healing, then we need physicians. If there is a need for reconciliation, we need peacemakers. This is our time to stand and be lions. Read more
Retrospect is a human luxury. It’s great to remember the good, the joyous journey of the past. But it also serves as a painful, backwards glance at what-could-have-been, should-have-been. When I look back at some of the decisions I’ve made regarding relationships, actions, and spoken words, I have to wonder, “What was I thinking?” I admit there are times when I wonder what my life would have been like without those stupid, silly, and often sinful decisions. The rear-view mirror... Read more
I run from God too. When the hard sayings teachings make me wobble, the internal self against the eternal truth should be an easy choice. But it isn’t. Running from truth doesn’t make it any less true. I pack my knapsack and announce that I’m leaving. But it never lasts. Maybe for a couple of hours, or days, or weeks. But before long, the call for home is too loud. Read more
The arrogant presumption that what we know today is the correct view of history, that we are the chosen generation, should give us pause. We shouldn’t believe that we are the people with the absolute moral authority to look at generations past with a righteous judgment. We haven't earned that right. Read more
Now that Easter is over, my mind has been thinking about the days after his Resurrection. What were the interactions like? Did he lay a guilt trip on those who had betrayed Him? To Peter, he simply said, "Feed my sheep." Read more
It’s moments like this when people of faith need to rise to the occasion by falling on our knees. There is no legislation that will stop this. With 300 million guns in American's homes, cars, basements and attics, there is simply no way to seize them without a revolution. We cannot arm enough mental health specialists to eliminate all the would-be killers. We cannot monitor all the conversations or social media and hope to spot a sign and incarcerate them "just in case." Call me "weak," but I'm praying because nothing else seems to be working. Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In