“What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” This insightful statement opens A. W. Tozer’s classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy. Tozer goes on to explain that our view of God—what we believe God is like in the deep recesses of our being—shapes the whole…

“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” – Psalm 73:22 These words, which the Psalmist prays in repentance to the Lord, are some I return to often in my own prayers of repentance. They capture well some of my actions and attitudes of my heart: beastly—like an animal. And this…

I’m teaching the Christian Fellowship School seniors about worldview and culture, and we’ve been talking about the significance of stories in our lives. I’ve been trying to help them see that we all live out of a dominant narrative that provides meaning and gives shape to our lives. The story we live by forms the…

There are many stunning things about Jesus of Nazareth. He was so different, so unlike most of the people I know—so unlike myself—in ways that make him utterly compelling to me. The crowds were drawn to him, and for more than his miracles, I think. There’s something about him that draws us in and makes…

Do you remember the food pyramid? Most of us learned about it sometime fairly early in our schooling. It showed how many servings of the different major food groups—breads and grains, fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products—we need each day. Though the consensus on what constitutes healthy eating changes from time to time, the…

In high school I decided, in a rare burst of literary inspiration, to tackle Daniel Defoe’s classic novel Robinson Crusoe. The book got the best of me, and I never finished it. But what I did read left an imprint. It was Robinson Crusoe that first introduced me to the idea of Divine Providence. The…

This week at our cfCollege Bible study, the question of God’s sovereignty came up, as it often does. All roads, it seems, lead here. How does God rule over his creation? Is God in control of everything? What about evil and suffering? What about our decisions and choices? Can you miss God’s will? Can you…

Christmas is behind us, an ancient memory at this point in March, with Easter just ahead. But if we return to Christmas for just a moment, it might enhance our experience of Easter this year, especially for those who may be in a difficult season or a time of waiting on the Lord. We tend…

“I just wish I knew what God’s will for my life was.” Ever had that thought? Trying to figure out God’s will can be frustrating. It can seem mysterious, elusive, unknowable. Except when it’s not. Except when God makes it plain as day, and then you realize maybe not knowing wasn’t so bad. Like when…

This was the question Martin Luther was asking 500 years ago. What works does God want us to do? How can we please him? Can we ever do enough? It was a question that nearly drove Luther mad. The question wasn’t new to Luther. A Jewish crowd once asked it of Jesus shortly after they…