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…
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“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…
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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…
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Are you a theologian of the cross or a theologian of glory? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Probably not. But it’s a great question to ask (really, I promise) as we approach the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, kicked off when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of…
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I remember it clearly, I was 12 starting 8th grade at a new school in a new town and my life was ridiculously messy. It was just me and a single parent. The rest of my family was scattered and had already stopped going to church, so I started walking to a church. I’d wanted…
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Since January 1, 2017, we, as a church, have been having thirty-one consecutive evenings of prayer. We are now two weeks into our thirty-one days. For those of you who have not been able to attend, we spend an hour together waiting with God from 7:00-8:00 p.m. each evening. We have been playing a list…
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You’ve probably heard it said that the gospel transforms lives. But how? What does it look like for the gospel to transform us? And does the gospel really reach down into the big struggles we face—like depression, or paralyzing fear and anxiety, or sexual sin? Answering those questions is what my friend Scott Mehl, who…
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In the running community to which I belong there is a certain frame of thinking that runners use to categorize themselves. There are the A runners (who run fast and long), the B runners (who run steady and reasonable), and the C runners (who enjoy the experience of just being out there regardless of the…
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Most of us are not accustomed to praying for any length of time. At best we are sporadic and distracted. At worst we feel like we are failures when it comes to praying. We are about as good as non-believers in prayer in that we can throw up a few ‘Hail Mary’ type prayers and…
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Three Reasons I’m excited about 31 Days of Prayer I need a fresh word. I have been running in the same direction for a very long time – same job, same city, same house, same Odyssey mini van, same routine. I’m not complaining. I love my life. It’s secure and comfortable and I am reasonably…
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