Why is Christmas so important? In the United States, we celebrate Santa or Jesus. Some of us even enjoy the traditions that celebrate both. But every year, you will find someone who will call down fire and brimstone on those who seem to forget that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” And heaven forbid if you happen to blurt our happy holidays. You have practically removed Jesus altogether. The last week of Advent has a theme of love, which... Read more
Cindy-Lou Who famously sings about missing out on the spirit of Christmas. In the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Cindy is concerned that everyone is missing the point of Christmas. People are busy with so many other things that the spirit of Christmas is gone. As we approach the third week of Advent, we examine the concept of joy. As I look back over the past year, I wonder for myself and the world, where are you, joy?... Read more
If you are following along with my Advent series, you might feel overwhelmed. Jesus brings hope into the world. But then He instructs His followers to reflect that hope into the world. To participate in building the kingdom of God. For those who are task- or results-oriented, you might think this is too big of a job. And you are right, it can’t be done. All human effort alone cannot build one piece of God’s kingdom. Jesus has a simple... Read more
In The Princess Bride, Westley (portraying the Dread Pirate Roberts) declares, “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” We do not have to look very far to see that Westley is not wrong. The world does have more pain than it should. Better theologians than me have discussed the pain problem so I will leave that to them. Instead, I want to think through how Jesus saw hope. Let’s look at why Jesus compared His followers... Read more
In the proper tradition of prophets and poets, one of Rich Mullins’s last songs was composed of questions to God, titled “Hard to Get.” Mullins, who passed nine days after recording a rough version of the song, put into words the feelings of loneliness and disconnect people experience along the journey of knowing God. We are just a few days from the start of the Advent season, and there is no better time to consider what it means for God... Read more
How do you define success? Is it okay to fail? Where do God, faith, and human limitation interact in these questions? Culturally, we must admit that we tend to revere and make heroes, maybe idols, out of those we consider successful. But for every church that has to build a new building to fit all the new people, there is a church that has to close its doors. So, the true measurement for serving God is not found in the... Read more
If you have been on your journey for any time, you know you can find hurt, frustration, disappointment, and failure. Regardless, you cannot give in to the destructive practice of bitterness. It is famously said that bitterness is the poison we drink, hoping it kills other people. Bitterness is the result of losing what we need for the journey. We stop walking in hope, faith, and trust and resign ourselves to accepting the worst of all possibilities. Walk His disciples... Read more
Expediency is not a hallmark of the spiritual journey in the wilderness. How much time it takes is not as important as much as the character of the heart. If you want to do it right, you must take the time to hear and follow God. Attempts to artificially speed up the journey’s timeline often create heartache and pain. Trying to force God’s hand or dragging Him into your proposed solutions are missteps along the journey. God continues to look... Read more
The water that quenches a dry and thirsty soul as they journey through the wilderness is hope. Hope is an oasis in what can be an arid and dusty land. This likely seems counterintuitive to those who are wandering. After all, the wilderness is often rock bottom and the place where you can feel the most abandoned. These are the places where hope normally goes to be lost. But when you follow God in your journey, you quickly learn that... Read more
Honesty is the expectation of the journey in the wilderness. David was a wilderness wanderer. Read the Psalms and hear the raw honesty God places in the book most closely aligned to worship. Today, much Christian music (worship or otherwise) takes on much happier subjects. One song recently released feels straight from the wilderness. Cory Asbury writes with raw honesty in his song Kind. The words are a balm to those searching for the right words to say to God.... Read more
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