To grin and bear something means to tolerate it, put on a happy face and ride out the discomfort. After all, it’ll be over soon enough. That’s a perfectly practical way to deal with half the difficulties in life. But what if you could manage to respond with love instead of mere tolerance or reluctant acquiescence? What areas of life might improve with the switch — work, family, everything maybe? (more…) Read more
How was your church service last week? Were the songs good, the pastor polished, the message on-point? In the name of upping the quality of pastoral work, a new website in Germany now allows parishioners to rate their priest’s performance in several categories, including worship, credibility, work with youth and seniors, and having his “Finger on the Pulse.” Even without such an app, we often create our personal ad hoc Angie’s Lists, evaluating the service and its various officiants during... Read more
The Scripture says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The psalmist uses the phrase to talk about our origins, how we were “skillfully” formed by God. I think we can view the sentiment as more than that, however. I think we can take it as an invitation to view all of a person’s life as fearful and wonderful. “Marvelous are Your works,” says the psalmist, and that includes us, not only our conception but our whole lives. God not... Read more
In C.S. Lewis’s Narnia novel, Prince Caspian, the four Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are lost. Walking through the woods, they cannot make their way safely and are uncertain about the right course. Lucy catches a glimpse of the great lion Aslan and knows that they should walk toward where she spotted him. The others disbelieve, however, and think they have a better idea. They don’t and after going their own way nearly get killed. Aslan appears again... Read more
Men are justifiably famous for lacking commitment, enjoying irresponsibility and freedom as long as we can reasonably stretch it, and oftentimes several yards past that. One manifestation of this artful dodge is that marriage ages have gone up and up in recent decades along with the cohabitation stats. (more…) Read more
Our days are marked by trouble. Illness in the family, perhaps dire, a child struggling with unbelief, a bad job situation, turmoil in a close relationship — the list is as long and varied as you want to make it. We’re all facing something, a unique trial, a particular pain. And it’s not surprising. “Beloved,” says Peter in his first letter, “do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing... Read more
Whether it’s the political activism of the eighties and nineties or the social activism of today, Christians want to make a difference in the world. But are we starting in the right place? Often we see a crisis or a need and jump to fix it. We raise funds, join a movement, buy a T-shirt, send our tithe, blog, campaign, distribute voters guides, do all kinds of things — many of them good. But they’re not enough. All those things... Read more
I’ve written in the past about the mystery of marriage, how it transforms its participants. That’s part of its very purpose, to conform us to the image of Christ and deepen our communion with God. I’ve still got a long way to go and, as they say, results may vary, but here are three positive ways that marriage to Megan has begun to change me. 1. Learning to love better The more circumstances require you to love like Christ, the... Read more
Today Orthodox Christians celebrate the life of the Prophet Elijah, and what a life: He challenged two kings and a queen to their faces, spoke with angels, called down fire from heaven, multiplied flour and oil for a starving widow, raised her boy from the dead, caused rain to come and go by his prayers, and was finally swept up to heaven in a fiery chariot before being present at the Transfiguration of Christ. Because of his powerful ministry he’s... Read more
There has been a lot of serious psychological and neurobiological research on happiness in recent years, sussing out and measuring its elusive components. The findings are occasionally popularized for lifestyle magazines and newspapers; though if you desire to really stay abreast you can subscribe to peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journals on the field. I’m sure some of this works is quite good and helpful, but I’m also pretty sure that we’re too focused on happiness, particularly at the popular level where the... Read more
Joel J. Miller
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