I’ve started a new book that I am very excited about reading, especially after discovering that this author has loved to study God’s Word, has loved to seek out mentors, has loved to belong to the church and really be a part, has loved growing in the knowledge of God. Sadly, this is rare among [...]
Recently, I have encountered many people willing to partake in the new fad of smoking “spice” or k2, because after all–there is nothing in Scripture condemning it. Or so these childish believers think. They are wrong. True wisdom, and good theology, and the ability to know what is pleasing to the LORD does not come [...]
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 [...]
Meditation is one of the classic spiritual disciplines that in today’s busy lifestyle has the unfortunate fate of being a once-a-year exercise for some, and a non-option for many others. For many it becomes a non-option because it is misunderstood and sometimes seemingly intimidating. I remember years ago some fellow Christians challenging me to spend [...]
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 [...]
I am gearing up for another academic year, I enjoy my job of working with college students–though I must admit I enjoy the summers that allow me to process, to think, to do some personal development, and recharge. As I have been thinking, I have remembered some of the things students said during our meetings [...]
Not only is this one of my favorite German words, it is one every Christian ought to have a clue about. Weltanschauung means “world view” and like it or not, you have one. You have a “world view” by which you judge reality, truth, beauty, fairness, right-vs-wrong, and what you find appealing or shameful or [...]
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 [...]
Forgetting what? The purification from your former sins. This sounds stuffy to be sure, but when you unpack all that this phrase entails, you’ll find you were forgetting something very beautiful. How easy to read through 2 Peter 1 and skip over what is at stake here. When these things are yours (scroll over that [...]
I have been struck these past couple months with the joy that accompanies the privilege we have to learn what is pleasing to God. Such knowledge is not available to the “old self” but now we are being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created and redeemed us [...]