Blog
Misleading First Impressions and Good Differences
A lot of us, I’m sure, have heard how important it is to make a good first impression, which is true. But at the same time, people are complicated. It takes time to see who they really are, why they act the way they do.
Why I Still Have Hope for Evangelicalism
I understand why many who share evangelical theological commitments are reluctant to speak or have considered abandoning the term and the identity as meaningless. But I still have hope for evangelicalism.
Trusting the Vinegrower for 2018
In a contentious and divided culture, abounding in fruit and abiding in Jesus are as important as ever. Here are four practices that can help us do both in the coming year.
Risky Invitations from God
As a kid, I always played it safe. When my uncle wanted to take me around the block on his motorcycle, I said no. When I was doing a report on airplanes and had the chance to take a free plane ride, I said no. And when a family from church invited me on their trip to Disney World—you guessed it—I said no.
Spiritual Disciplines of Advent and Christmas: Worship
It’s easy to sing carols and praise God for sending Jesus on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, with candles glowing and people you love around you. It is harder (at least for me) to look ahead at a brand new untouched year and praise him for what he will do in that year. To do that, we have to ask if we really believe that he can only, ever, work for the good of those he loves.
Struggling on Christmas? Jesus Understands
How can we celebrate Christmas when we struggle with unresolved feelings of hurt and sadness for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world?
Spiritual Disciplines of Advent: Prayer
Advent is full of the trappings of the coming of God. But often, among the church services, the charitable donations, and the renditions of “O Holy Night,” we miss God. Like Zechariah, we can be so busy creating space for God to dwell that we forget to prepare our own hearts.
Spiritual Disciplines of Advent: Remembering
How can looking back deepen our trust in God for the future? An often-overlooked passage from Matthew’s Gospel provides an answer.
Spiritual Disciplines of Advent: Fasting
In this “hurried life,” how can we find more time with God? And how can we go deeper with God this Advent season when shopping, parties, and Christmas events get added to an already packed schedule?
Living with a Death-Defying Hope
The Bible refers to death as a great enemy. In American culture, there are two ways we usually deal with death: denial and despair. But Scripture offers a different way.