I was once in a conversation with some friends about prayer, about spiritual disciplines, about taking time out of our busy lives to rest and pray. I remember one mentioning that Jesus did not have this luxury. At the time, I knew it was wrong–Jesus was not a busy-body. So I have been intentionally studying [...]
In speaking to a college student today about her struggles against sin, she said “it is really hard to be a Christian when you don’t live on campus.” She said that not being surrounded 24/7 by other Christians made it nearly impossible to be a Christian. To this my heart screams Yes!!! and NO!!!! Let [...]
I have heard it twice this week, in addition to the countless times before, that though we are called to love people, we do not have to like them. Well, before we get carried away with that, let us think about love, about “like” (whatever that is), and turn to Scripture to see if God [...]
An ever appropriate word for the Church to hear is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s teachings on the day alone and the day together. Both are necessary, both are good, and without either one the Christian is incapable of living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. You can find these chapters in his book detailing [...]
If you are a Christian, then you are a part of Christ’s Body. All Christians everywhere across space and time are members of one another. This is worth pondering, because there simply is no lone wolf Christianity. That is an oxymoron, but worse, it is a logical contradiction. To be a Christian is not to [...]
Roughly 10 years ago, my pastor at the time taught me a great deal about Christian Community, and much of who I am today reflects that teaching. The two lessons I keep coming back to concern the “one another” passages, and the perfect community of the Trinity that God desires us to be a part [...]
The Body of Christ cannot be replaced by the internet. Though many things in this world can be used to the glory of God and can enhance some of our experiences here on earth, the physical church comprised of genuine relationships in which we are all members of one another is never to be replaced [...]
Let’s define our term before we discuss it, ok? Levity: lightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness; fickleness. Think long and hard now–is there any levity in your life? A time when you desire escape, a time when your thoughts or behavior reflect a lack of appropriateness, a time when [...]
A professional Journal I subscribe to, the Law and Policy Report, recently contained the following information in a study about suicide rates among 18-22 year olds: The March-April 2001 issue of Harvard Magazine contains an overview of “the Grant Study,” a “longitudinal investigation” examining “the lives of a group of Harvard men who have been [...]
Apart from knowing God’s Word, we cannot truly know Him. God has revealed His truth throughout time in various ways, but His most complete revelation came through Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate. Jesus told his disciples that if they would abide in His words, and come to Him for life, then they would know Him [...]